G5 Sahel

G5 Sahel or G5S (French: G5 du Sahel) is an institutional framework for coordination of regional cooperation in development policies and security matters in west Africa. It was formed on 16 February 2014 in Nouakchott, Mauritania,[2] at a summit of five Sahel countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger.[3] It adopted a convention of establishment on 19 December 2014,[4] and is permanently seated in Mauritania. The coordination is organised on different levels. The military aspect is coordinated by the respective countries' Chiefs of Staff. The purpose of G5 Sahel is to strengthen the bond between economic development and security,[5] and together battle the threat of jihadist organizations operating in the region (AQIM, MUJWA, Al-Mourabitoun, Boko Haram).

G5 Sahel
G5 du Sahel
Logo
Member states of G5 Sahel
Formation16 February 2014 (2014-02-16)
TypeSecurity alliance
HeadquartersNouakchott, Mauritania
Membership
Official language
French
Permanent Secretary
Maman Sambo Sidikou[1]
WebsiteG5Sahel.org

History
A billboard in Niamey (Niger) announcing a summit of Heads of State of the G5-Sahel in February 2018.

On 1 August 2014, France launched a counterterrorism mission, Operation Barkhane, deploying 3,000 soldiers in the member states of G5 Sahel.[6] On 20 December, G5 Sahel, with the backing of the African Union, called on the United Nations Security Council to set up an international force to "neutralize armed groups, help national reconciliation, and establish stable democratic institutions in Libya."[7] This was met with opposition from Algeria.[8]

In June 2017, France requested that the United Nations Security Council approve the deployment of a counterterrorism task force consisting of 10,000 soldiers to G5 Sahel.[9][10] The German Bundeswehr has agreed to contribute around 900 troops of its own to help the mission. They will mostly be utilized in the Gao region of Northern Mali for surveillance purposes.[11] The European Union agreed to provide 50 million euros towards financing the force.[9] Russia and China expressed support for the operation, while the United States and the United Kingdom did not agree about financing.[12][13] France and the U.S. would reach an agreement on 20 June.[14] The next day, the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved the deployment of a G5 Sahel counterterrorism task force.[15] On 29 June, French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced that the French military would cooperate with G5 Sahel.[16]

Member states
Name Accession date
 Burkina Faso 16 February 2014
 Chad 16 February 2014
 Mali 16 February 2014
 Mauritania 16 February 2014
 Niger 16 February 2014

Current leaders

References
  1. https://www.jeuneafrique.com/529903/politique/g5-sahel-maman-sidikou-remplace-najim-elhadj-mohamed/
  2. Chavez, Dominic (14 July 2014). "Sahel G5 Meeting Brings Together Governments and Donors to Accelerate Regional Development". World Bank. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  3. "African nations form G5 to work on Sahel security, development". Reuters. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  4. "Convention portant: Creation du G5 Sahel" (PDF). G5Sahel.org (in French). Sahel G5. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  5. "Communiqué final du Sommet des Chefs d'Etat du G5 du Sahel : Création d'un cadre institutionnel de coordination et de suivi de la coopération régionale dénommé G5 du Sahel". LeSahel.org (in French). Office National d'Edition et de Presse. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  6. Larivé, Maxime (7 August 2014). "Welcome to France's New War on Terror in Africa: Operation Barkhane". The National Interest. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  7. Lagneau, Laurent (20 December 2014). "G5 Sahel calls for UN intervention in Libya, in agreement with the African Union" (in French). Military Zone. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  8. R., Zahir (22 December 2014). "Algeria responds to the call of G5 Sahel: Military intervention threatens the future of the Libyans" (in French). L'actualité. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  9. Chémali, Alain (8 June 2017). "Mali: la France propose à l'ONU le déploiement d'une force africaine au Sahel". geopolis.francetvinfo.fr (in French). Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  10. "La France va demander à l'ONU d'autoriser une force antiterroriste au Sahel". La Chaîne Info (in French). 7 June 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  11. Julia Maria Egleder (2 February 2018). "Pulling together". D+C, development and cooperation. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  12. "Force du G5 Sahel: la France confrontée aux réticences des Etats-Unis à l'ONU - RFI". RFI Afrique (in French). Radio France Internationale. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  13. Bourreau, Marie (16 June 2017). "Aux Nations unies, Paris et Washington s'opposent sur la force antiterroriste du G5 Sahel". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  14. "ONU: accord entre Paris et Washington sur une force anti-jihadistes au Sahel". La Dépêche (in French). Toulouse. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  15. "Security Council Welcomes Deployment of Joint Force to Combat Terrorism Threat, Transnational Crime in Sahel, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2359 (2017)". United Nations. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  16. "French military to work with G5 Sahel troops". Radio France Internationale. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
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