France, Germany to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts in Sahel

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have agreed on intensifying efforts to fight terrorism in West Africa.

Chancellor Merkel has called for the deployment of anti-terror troops in Africa’s troubled Sahel region.

European and African leaders met for talks outside Paris to discuss plans to battle the growing jihadi threat.

The remarks came with the presence of G5 representative and the President of Burkina Faso Roch Kaboré.

We also announced a new partnership, the details of which will be announced at a Franco-German conference before the end of the year, according to the German chancellor, who also expressed Germany’s “strong commitment”.

She also said the initiative would not mean an increase in the number of German soldiers deployed there, who are currently several hundred training and supporting the UN force in Mali. The number of French soldiers, 4,500 soldiers, are active in its military operation to combat jihadists “Barkhan.”

President Macron also said the challenge in the Sahel is to fight terrorism effectively, and Macron promised to provide additional financial support to the G5.

Merkel stressed that development plays a prominent role in stopping the expansion of armed organizations, as development without security is not possible.

The Chancellor announced that Germany will provide around one billion euros in development assistance to the Sahel states by 2021. But, she said, "this support will be in vain if the people cannot live in safety and security". Germany has an elementary interest in ensuring security in the region, which is a precondition for economic development in the Sahel.

Merkel explained that the duty of the initiative is to meet the needs of the African Sahel in the areas of logistical support, equipment and training, as it is not about merely sending troops to fight.

"Islamist terrorism is spreading. We cannot afford to wait. We must begin this fight as swiftly as possible."

French President Emmanuel Macron had invited participants to attend the summit at La Celle-Saint-Cloud Palace near Paris. Their discussions revolved around ways of fighting terrorism and organized crime.

The heads of state and government advocated greater political, financial and military engagement within the framework of regional cooperation in the Sahel. The focus was on support for the joint intervention force G5 Force Conjointe which the G5 Sahel countries decided to establish, and which has the support of Germany and France.

In June the EU announced that it would provide 50 million euros to establish the joint intervention force. It is also supporting Niger’s economic and social development plan for 2017 – 2020. The European Commission has adopted new programmes for the Sahel region and the Lake Chad region to be funded from the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.

Al-Qaeda has a strong presence in the African Sahel, where it has formed its largest alliance in the world, known as the Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin, which was established in March 2017 as a result of the merger of four armed movements in Mali and the Sahel.

Amira Abdel Halim, an expert on African affairs, has said the Sahel and Saharan Africa have become a hotbed of conflicts and chaos, as the battle with Daesh has shifted from Syria and Iraq to West African countries.

In an interview with The Reference, Abdel Halim said Daesh exists heavily in the African Sahel due to huge reserves of oil and natural gas there. That makes the region very attractive for the takfiri groups.

The G5 forces have already succeeded in responding to a number of terrorist operations in the past period, but currently they need strenuous international efforts to provide support to finally encounter and eradicate terrorism.