Coalition for the Sahel - Jean-Yves Le Drian’s participation in the ministerial meeting of the Coalition for the Sahel (video conference, 12 June 2020)

Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, will co-chair, today, together with Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Mauritanian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Mauritanians Abroad, and Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the first ministerial meeting of the Coalition for the Sahel. More than 45 ministers, as well as representatives of the main international organizations active in the Sahel (UN, African Union, ECOWAS) and multilateral institutions (World Bank, African Development Bank), will take part in this video conference, underscoring the internationalization of the Coalition for the Sahel called for by the G5 Sahel and the EU.

The minister will strongly reaffirm the importance of coordinated action carried out simultaneously in each of the four pillars of the Coalition for the Sahel: (1) the fight against terrorism; (2) the strengthening of the capacities of the Sahel’s armed forces; (3) support for the return of the state and regional authorities; (4) development. This action reinforces the positive momentum observed since the summit in Pau (January 13, 2020) which resulted in the military operations by the G5 Sahel Joint Force and the national armed forces of the Sahel in coordination with Operation Barkhane as well as the fresh impetus given to the return of the state and public services, and support for stabilization and development.

The Coalition for the Sahel supports the efforts undertaken in support of the G5 Sahel with respect to restoring security and stability, justice and the rule of law and local economic development.