AU and G5 Sahel sign memorandum of understanding on regional joint force support
The MoU aims to establish a framework for the AU to support the G5 Sahel countries in mobilizing additional resources, including technical support, for the effective operation of this joint force.
The African Union (AU) issued a statement on March 24 saying that AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Affairs Smail Chergui and G5 Sahel Executive Secretary Maman Sidiko signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on operational support for the G5 Sahel countries' counter-terrorism forces.
The G5 Sahel group was established in 2014, comprising Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, to promote close cooperation and address major challenges in the region.
In a related development, on the sidelines of the AU Extraordinary Summit on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA), held on March 21 in the capital Kigali (Rwanda), Rwandan President Paul Kagame announced his support of one million USD to support the activities of the G5 Sahel Joint Counter-Terrorism Force. This support will be in the form of aid goods and necessities.
The AU has applauded Rwanda for its contribution to the G5 Sahel joint force to improve security and combat terrorism in the Sahel region. AU Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat called on other AU member states to increase aid and assistance to the G5 Sahel countries./.