Boost for forces fighting jihadists in Sahel region

EUROPEAN leaders were expected yesterday to give a financial boost to a joint African force tackling jihadists in the Sahel at an international conference in Brussels, as fresh violence highlights the region’s fraught security situation.

The European Union will announce à50-million (R714-million) for the G5 Sahel force at talks with heads of state from Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, adding to around à280-million (R4-billion) already pledged by international donors.

The high-level meeting attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel comes after two soldiers from France’s counter-terrorism force in West Africa were killed on Wednesday when their vehicle struck a mine in northeastern Mali.

It was the latest in a surge of attacks underscoring the challenge facing the five countries, among the poorest in the world, which are on the frontline of a war against Islamist militants.

An EU official warned of a deteriorating security situation in Mali, with daily attacks.

The G5 force needs more funds to help it reach its target of 5 000 properly trained and equipped troops to patrol hotspots and restore authority in lawless areas.

As well as fighting militants, the force also tackles smuggling and illegal immigration network.

The force has so far set up a headquarters and command structure and carried out two operations, with French support, in the troubled tri-border area where Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso meet.

Yesterday’s conference aims to secure more international funding for the force.

As well as 26 EU leaders and the United Nations, around a dozen other countries will be represented by foreign ministers including Saudi Arabia, Norway, Morocco and Tunisia.

Macron’s office said the fact so many countries were attending was proof of the collective realisation of the Sahel’s importance for the stability of Africa and also Europe. —