Mauritanian President Calls for Revival of G5 Sahel Against Terrorism

Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani is urging West African countries to unite against the growing threat of terrorism in the region.

He advocates for a potential revival of the G5 Sahel alliance, which was established in 2014 by Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Chad, with support from Western partners, to address jihadism and development challenges in the sub-region through a joint force.

Ghazouani highlights the worsening security situation in the sub-region in recent years, following military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. These countries had pledged to focus on securing their territories, which have been severely affected by violence.

In 2022 and 2023, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger withdrew from the G5 Sahel, citing exploitation by France. The military regimes in these countries have severed military and political ties with the former French colonial power and have shifted their alliances towards Russia. Additionally, they distanced themselves from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in January, accusing it of being manipulated by Paris, and formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) four months later.

When asked about the possibility of the AES fostering a new form of cooperation against insecurity, Ghazouani emphasized the importance of first convening a meeting to discuss and raise awareness about the current situation.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top

WAVN