Press release by President Michel on the EU-G5 Sahel video conference, 28 April 2020

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, current Chair of the G5 Sahel, will co-chair an EU-G5 Sahel video conference tomorrow, 28 April 2020, with the United Nations and the African Union Commission.

The European Union is a major partner of the Sahel countries and is committed to working alongside them to address the challenges facing the region.

However, the situation remains of particular concern, as the recent attacks have demonstrated.

The fight against terrorism, support for the countries’ defence and internal security capabilities, restoration of the presence of the State in fragile areas, long-term development, and the humanitarian response are the EU’s main areas of commitment in the Sahel.

This video conference is testament to the importance that the European Union attaches to its cooperation with the G5 Sahel, and will serve to strengthen the EU’s and the G5 Sahel countries’ collective commitment to their shared goals as regards security and stability in the Sahel.

The global COVID-19 pandemic cannot cause the European Union’s collective efforts in support of the Sahel to stall.

Tomorrow, the European Union and the G5 Sahel will mark the renewal and strengthening of their joint commitment, through a set of political initiatives and frameworks such as the Coalition for the Sahel, the Partnership for Security and Stability in the Sahel, and the G5 Sahel Integrated Strategic Framework.