In Nouakchott, the heads of State of the G5 Sahel, and the president Macron have again measured the magnitude of the challenges to defeat the jihadists. At the same time, they have expressed their willingness to continue in the successes obtained on the jihadists, whose several leaders are permanently out of the fight. The president and Emmanuel Macron has said that the French forces and the sahel, had managed to “reverse” the balance of power in the so-called area of the three borders (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger), where they have concentrated their operations against groups affiliated to the islamic State in recent months. “Victory is possible” in the Sahel, he said, it is necessary for it to “amplify” the recent dynamic, in particular to ensure the return of prefects, judges, police officers in areas that are beyond now control the state.
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significant successes…
At the end of this summit, the picture remains bleak in the region driven by a downward spiral that began in 2012 in northern Mali. The violence jihadist community and which have caused thousands of deaths and caused a serious humanitarian crisis persist. The States no longer exercise their authority over vast territories. Traffic will continue to grow and the crisis threatens to spread beyond the Sahel, to the Ivory Coast for example. Certainly, “significant progress” has been made, said the host of mauritania, Mohammed Ould Cheikh el-Ghazouani. But they are ” inadequate given the scale of the challenges. Violent extremism in all its forms continues to plague several areas of the space of the G5 Sahel and extends in a disturbing way ” to other regions, he warned. Mr. Ghazouani, whose country assumes the presidency of the G5 Sahel, received his counterparts from burkina faso, mali, niger, chad and French to make the point six months after the peak of Pau (France), where they had decided to intensify the joint effort to reconquer the lost ground.
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Nouakchott to continue the effort
Despite the masks and the profusion of sanitary precautions imposed by the context of pandemic, Nouakchott has been discussed in an atmosphere less tense than Pau, organized under the pressure of a series of setbacks of the armies of the region in the face of the jihadists, of the death of 13 French soldiers and questioning of the French intervention. Nouakchott was presented, on the French side, as the opportunity to prepare for the future on the momentum of Pau and continue the effort to associate itself with the struggle the greater number of partners, particularly in europe, for example in Takuba, a group of special forces intended to accompany the Malians to the fight. The meeting with the heads of State of the sahel has been extended to the international organizations, the president of the european Council and the heads of government Spanish, Italian and German, by video-conferencing for the most part. In Pau, the presidents had agreed to close ranks. Since then, France has increased the numbers of Barkhane 500 military personnel to wear 5 100.
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… in a region increasingly fragile
France and its partners have intensified their offensive in the area of the three borders, claiming the “neutralization” of hundreds of jihadists. Another success : death in the north of Mali, the leader of Al-Qaeda in the islamic Maghreb (Aqim), the Algerian Abdelmalek Droukdel who was killed by French special forces, with american support. But, moreover, the jihadist groups extend their influence in Burkina faso, which plunges dangerously. In Burkina faso, Mali, Niger, armies are accused of numerous abuses against civilians. The final communiqué of the summit takes on the initiation of investigations and for “exemplary sanctions” if these acts are proven. Everyone agreed that the gains may be offset by the absence of progress deemed necessary on fronts other than military, such as rebuilding political and civil.
In Burkina faso, entire areas threaten private at the end of the year of the presidential election, which is likely to be challenged. We will elect a new president in Niger in 2020. As for Mali, its president, is facing a challenge inner, the outcome of which worried its neighbors in west africa and its allies. Mr. Macron stated the “emergency” measures of appeasement to dissipate the tensions.
Read also Violence the jihadists : the long way of the cross of Burkina Faso
The president of mauritania has also emphasized “the troubling evolution” of the libyan crisis, according to him, one of the major causes of the degradation in the sahel. He also referred to the impact of the Covid-19, which “destructured their fragile economies already burdened by the burden of the debt” and reiterated the ” strong demand for immediate cancellation of the debt of (their) States.” The presidents agreed to a new appointment in early 2021.
writing will advise you
French Military in Africa : a good investment ? Mauritania, soldier model of the G5 Sahel ? Violence the jihadists : the long way of the cross of Burkina Faso, The French force Barkhane in the Sahel will have a new commander
