French troops first became involved in safeguarding Mali’s famous city in 2013 as a response to its takeover by Islamist insurgents. Today a symbolic hand off ceremony was held at Camp Barkhane marking the end of French presence at the military base. This is a part of France’s decision to withdraw forces from Mali as a result of the ongoing political uncertainty within the African nation after its second coup in as many years. This has left the French government in an awkward position from which has led it to cease its counter terrorism operations within the country. It remains to be seen if French troops will need to return to Mali if the battle against Islamist extremism turns sour.