By RFIPosted on 15-12-2019Changed on 15-12-2019 at 23:02

Initially planned in Ouagadougou, to prepare for the Pau summit in France, the exceptional summit of the heads of state of the G5 Sahel this Sunday, December 15, finally moved to Niger, out of solidarity for the country which lost 71 soldiers during a terrorist attack last week. In their joint communiqué, the heads of state called for a major international alliance against terrorism.

On the Martyrs Square, at the heart of the national squadron's air base, soldiers give the last shovel. The graves are still bare, simple metal plates indicate the names of the deceased.

After having prayed together, in silence, huddled together, the four heads of state bowed to the graves. " We came here to the Palace of the Martyrs to offer our condolences to the government, the people of Niger and the President of Niger for these significant losses. And above all also encourage our brothers from Niger as G5. This fight is long term and we need to arm ourselves with a lot of courage to be able to finish this fight and have victories. That is why we are here, ”says Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, President of Burkina Faso.

The attack by Inates deeply shocked Nigerien national opinion. It is the deadliest that the country has known since 2015. The Sahel has been experiencing a real intensification of the conflict for six months. Mali lost more than 140 soldiers over this period, and Burkina, more than 40.

“ As in all wars against terrorism, we will not win alone. In his final address, Marc Christian Kaboré was clear: the allies are necessary to defeat the jihadist groups that are destabilizing the Sahel.

Reminders of the commitments of the international community

The Burkinabè president adds that France is not the only partner of the G5 Sahel. It evokes other European countries or Canada. No clear indication, however, of a possible rapprochement with Russia. At the Sochi summit in late October, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré called on Moscow to establish a strategic partnership with the G5 Sahel.

These people have perfected their working methods, they have become more professional and we have to fight against people who came from other areas where they fought, Syria, and who contribute to the training of these people. So we need the allies, we need to have a much more transparent and coordinated work between us. We are open to any international partnership that can help us in the fight against terrorism.

Roch Marc Christian Kaboré

2019-12-15 - By Gaëlle Laleix

Barkhane, France or the summit of Pau, there was no question. Not a single mention of these subjects appears in the joint communiqué of the heads of state. They reminded the international community that it has made commitments to the G5 Sahel countries which have not yet materialized today. They mention in particular the promises of funding for the joint force. For the President of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, questioned at the end of the press point, the international community must take responsibility.

We want the international community to be more united, stop looking away from the Sahel, especially since it has a responsibility in aggravating the threats we face because it is it which made the decision to intervene. in Libya and this Libyan crisis today amplifies all the threats hanging over our States. So the international community must take responsibility; security is a global public good, the people of the Sahel cannot be left alone to face these threats

Mahamadou Issoufou

2019-12-15 - By Gaëlle Laleix

" The time is now for firm decisions, assured a foreign minister of the area, the priority is to strengthen our security strategy ". Asked about the recent tensions with France , Mahamadou Issoufou, the president of Niger, smiled, assuring that " there has never been an incident " with the French partner.

    On the same subject

    Niger: G5 Sahel meets behind closed doors under the sign of the killing of Inates

    Niger: tribute of President Issoufou to soldiers who died in Inates

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