( CNN ) -- Up to 11,200 peacekeeping troops could maintain stability in Mali under a new U.N. proposal . And up to 1,440 police could also participate in a U.N.-led mission there , U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a report to the U.N. Security Council released Tuesday . Under the proposal , the West African multinational force currently in Mali would eventually become part of the U.N. stabilizing mission . `` The proposed authorized military strength of 11,200 , based on seven mobile infantry battalions and a reserve battalion with enablers for the geographic and threat environments , provides for a security presence in the major population areas assessed to be at high risk , '' the report said . France confirms death of senior Islamist militant in Mali . The peacekeeping troops proposal was one of two options Ban floated in the report . Under the other option , the United Nations would focus on political and development activities there . French and allied forces , including Malian and Chadian troops , have made significant inroads in recent weeks combating Islamist extremist fighters in Mali . But fighting continues in the remote northeastern part of the West African nation . French involvement in the conflict began on January 11 , the day after militants said they had seized the city of Konna , east of Diabaly in central Mali , and were poised to advance south toward Bamako , the capital . In total , 4,000 French soldiers are deployed in Mali , according to the French Defense Ministry website , alongside 6,300 troops from Chad and the African-led International Support Mission to Mali . French officials have said the country will start withdrawing its troops from Mali next month . France using DNA to identify Islamists killed in Africa . CNN 's Richard Roth and Laura Smith-Spark contributed to this report .
A proposal says West African troops in Mali could be part of peacekeeping mission . The proposal is one of the options sent to the U.N. Security Council . Under the option , the U.N. would focus on political and development activities in Mali .