# Update on the Sahel crises

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2020/01/sahel-update/
- Published: 2020-01-14T21:21:17+01:00
- Author: Scott Morgan

On January 13th ‌2020, Emmanuel Macron the President of the French Republic hosted
a summit with the leaders of the Sahel five (Mali, Niger, Mauritania, Burkina Faso
and Chad) in Paris.

This date was chosen after a previously planned summit in December was postponed
resulting from a recent Jihadi attack in the region. It seems that a week does not
go by without a report of an attack in either Burkina Faso or Niger. Just this past
weekend one such attack took place which resulted in the deaths of dozens of Nigerien
Soldiers.

There were several key takeaways from this meeting, which includes;

There is an increase in anti-French sentiment in all five West African States. During
the summit President Macron stated that a clear lack of political commitment would
lead to the withdrawal of the French troops currently [deployed](https://www.military.africa/2020/01/sahel-update/military.africa/2018/06/operation-barkhane-french-war-in-africas-sahel)
to the region.

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Currently there are wide swaths of territory in Mali and Burkina Faso that are currently
ungovernable and ethnic tensions are being stoked.

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During the Joint Press Conference, President Roch Marc Kabere remarked that, “today,
more than ever, the facts is result,'” and that “it’s for this reason that we decided
to review the deployment and redefine the pillars for future action.”

A new force is now in operation. The Coalition for the Sahel brings together France,
the Sahel five Nations and any future states that will want to join up. One can 
assume that the future forces could be other regional states as well as the United
States.

Recent reports of a shift in focus by the United States away from the Sahel in order
to confront challenges from Iran, Russia and China have raised concerns among the
embassies in Washington, however, before 2019 ended the US did [deliver](https://www.military.africa/2020/01/sahel-update/military.africa/2019/12/u-s-donates-transport-and-communications-equipment-to-burkina-faso)
equipment to [Niger](https://www.military.africa/2020/01/sahel-update/military.africa/2019/12/niger-receives-second-tranche-of-military-equipment-from-us),
[Chad](https://www.military.africa/2020/01/sahel-update/military.africa/2018/05/chadian-military-to-get-u-s-army-command-and-control-c2-center)
and [Burkina Faso](https://www.military.africa/2020/01/sahel-update/military.africa/2019/12/u-s-donates-transport-and-communications-equipment-to-burkina-faso),
which makes one wonder about what will be offered and delivered to both Mali and
Mauritania.

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President Macron has gone on record to state that he will reach out to President
Trump in order to get more support and commitments from the United States not to
leave the Sahel. This is an admission that the French position in West Africa could
be untenable at a glance.

The logistics capabilities of the United States and the quality of the [US Special Forces](https://www.military.africa/2020/01/sahel-update/military.africa/2017/09/u-s-military-special-force-spotted-in-cameroon-fighting-boko-haram)
appear to be seen as a lifesaver in certain circles. Their presence are desired 
by certain [elements](https://www.military.africa/2020/01/sahel-update/military.africa/2018/12/us-likely-complicit-in-cameroonian-militarys-human-rights-violation)
in the region as well.

The clear takeaway is that it appears that the insurgents are gaining grounds in
the Sahel despite the French efforts.

Therefore, in a way, the French wants the US to help bail them out.

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