By RFIPalled on 25-08-2019Modified on 25-08-2019 at 22:03
Faced with what Emmanuel Macron calls "the extension of the terrorist threat in the Sahel", Paris and Berlin have announced greater support for the G5 Sahel. But they also called for a new "expanded" partnership with neighboring countries in the region.
Speaking at the G7 summit , Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel spoke of the importance of better arming and training the military and police in the region. But they also explained that it was important to support countries throughout the region. They recognize that many ECOWAS countries are affected in some way by instability in the Sahel.
This hand extended to the coastal countries of West Africa is a novelty. But to do exactly what? This is not yet clear. In principle, this will be decided during a Franco-German meeting before the end of the year. A summit of the ECOWAS to be held in mid-September in Ouagadougou should look at the creation of a broad military coalition.
For Angela Merkel, however, no question to send more soldiers in the region. About 200 German soldiers already support the UN mission in Mali. Seen from Berlin, that's enough. For now, France and Germany are still trying to convince other donors and not just the G7 to commit to this new partnership for the Sahel.
A partnership that remains too vague in the eyes of NGOs. Instead of focusing on strategic considerations, Paris and Berlin should have, in their eyes, announced an initiative to fight against inequalities. Official theme of this summit of Biarritz.
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