(Ecofin Agency) - The US has decided to significantly increase its support ($60 million) to the joint force G5 Sahel, Florence Parly, French minister of the armed forces, revealed during a recent conference with her American peer, Jim Mattis, visiting Paris.  

This announcement, relayed by AFP, pleased Sahel countries, which have been elaborating different strategies to combat terrorist groups in the region each passing day.

"We really appreciate this support. It will be of great help against terrorism. The force [G5 Sahel] has received €420 million support pledges from international backers since it was created. We wish these funds will come quickly to help this force better play its part in the fight against terrorism" a source said during the meeting of experts of the platform of G5 Sahel women in Niamey.  

Apart from the US and other backers’ support, G5 Sahel countries are advocating for a Chapter VII resolution for the force. This will help it notably end financing problems. However, for the time being, this demand from the G5 Sahel countries has not been agreed by the UN.

Let’s remind that the joint force was launched in 2017 by Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad, to fight the terrorist groups that are springing up in the Sahel.