Operation Barkhane: Women on Duty

Who said that the army was a man's business? Although women had to wait WWII to officially join the armed forces, and hiring quotas haven’t been abolished until 1998, women are now increasingly joining the French army, and can now access to key positions long reserved for men.

This is the case for Operation Barkhane, launched in 2014. Bringing together 5,100 soldiers and huge material resources, it is a real technical and strategic challenge, carried out in an area spanning Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad. The aim? To fight against Armed Terrorist Groups by cutting off their logistic flows and access to refuges in this mostly desert area, as vast as Europe. 

7 fighter aircrafts, 22 helicopters, more than 500 armored vehicles, a dozen tactical and strategic transport aircrafts and the support of many countries: it is at the heart of this mission that we follow the daily life of four female soldiers. On the ground and in the air, they are working day and night against the terrorist threat. By their side, we share their missions, their hopes and their determination.