The European Union will raise €50 million from the peace support facility for Africa. This will help support action by G5 Sahel countries in an effort to improve security conditions and cross-border cooperation in a region suffering from terrorism, trafficking and poverty.
This announcement was made on Monday 5 June in Bamako (Mali) by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, during the fifth meeting of G5 Sahel foreign ministers (Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Chad). Participants at the meeting also included the EU Special Representative for the Sahel, Angel Losada, and the Permanent Secretary to the G5 Sahel, Najim Elhadj Mohamed.
The press release adopted at the end of the meeting emphasises that, “CFSP missions will also help to support the Force through training activities and advice, as well as action to stabilise the Emergency Trust Fund, which will also, at the same time, help restore services provided by the state for the people”.
In the press release, the two parties also emphasise that under the terms of the strategic partnership that brings them together in the security and development arena, they will remain determined to tackle together, the main challenges in the Sahel, “particularly in the fight against terrorism, illegal trafficking, particularly human trafficking, and promoting Sahel youth interests”.
G5 Sahel foreign ministers called on the EU to continue its support for development initiatives and strategies in their region.
Insecurity is a major concern that they share, particularly in northern Mali. Addressing the peace agreement follow-up committee (CSA) in Bamako, the High Representative indicated that the EU, as a member of this body, was prepared to provide more support to the peace process in Mali, whilst highlighting the need for a “decisive breakthrough” for Malian forces and the fact that, “the signatories to the agreement were responsible for ensuring the security and protection of Malian citizens”. Speaking on behalf of the EU, she announced support of an additional €500,000 for the operational costs of the follow-up committee over the next few months, “provided that there is real progress”.
The two parties also highlighted the importance of greater cooperation within the G5 Sahel as a means of making the borders with Libya secure and, “stopping the illegal trafficking in human beings and offering better protection to migrants, the victims of this trade”.
The EU and G5 Sahel foreign ministers welcomed the initiative taken by the G5 Sahel for developing a youth strategy and improving the way in which youth are involved in Sahelian societies. In a backdrop to this meeting, Ms Mogherini also took part in a meeting in Bamako with around 100 young people from Sahel countries meeting up in the “Voice of Young People from the Sahel” project, in preparation of the next EU/Abidjan Africa summit (Côte d'Ivoire, 29 and 30 November 2017), which will focus on employment opportunities for young people.
On the previous day, whilst addressing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) summit on 4 June, Ms Mogherini highlighted the EU’s support for the joint G5 Sahel force, which illustrated, “the regional cooperation role for joint security”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)