European Union – Foreign Affairs Council – Meeting between the foreign and defense ministers and the ministers of the G5 Sahel countries (Brussels, 14 May 2019)

The discussions will focus on the response to the security situation in the region, notably in central Mali and Burkina Faso. France will underscore the importance of the Sahel states’ resolute commitment to the accelerated scaling up of the G5 Sahel Joint Force, in accordance with the UN-backed human rights compliance framework aimed at limiting the impact of the military operations on civilians. France will call on the EU and its member states to maintain their commitment to the Sahel, with respect to both the security aspect and the region’s development, and to support the deployment by the G5 states of their security forces and public services throughout the region. France will reaffirm the importance of implementing the inclusive political process in Mali and reconciliation initiatives in vulnerable areas.