International $500 Million Aid for Military Mission in West Africa

The EU's foreign policy chief announced on Friday at an international conference that half a billion dollars has been raised to fund military operations of multinational forces in West Africa. Europe is striving to secure the Sahel region in West Africa to prevent migrants and extremist fighters from reaching its shores. Five countries - Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Mauritania, known as the G5 Sahel, proposed the formation of a regional task force to address border threats earlier this year. According to Reuters, at an international conference attended by about 50 countries, including the US, Japan, and Norway, $509 million was pledged to support this multinational task force, composed of soldiers from Mali, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, and Mauritania. The EU, believing that training and equipping local armed forces can reduce the risk of casualties among its own troops, was one of the largest financial donors, pledging €116 million. This funding will facilitate the commencement of operations for these forces in the region this year. Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, emphasized that financial assistance must be disbursed quickly to initiate these operations as soon as possible. Meanwhile, African leaders stated that this amount only covers the first year of operations for the multinational forces. France, the former colonial power in the region, which currently has over 4,000 troops in the Sahel, welcomed the results of this conference after years of efforts to secure funding for its operations. Diplomats say that the changing attitudes of many countries stem from the assessment that armed extremist groups could use the Sahel in West Africa to launch attacks on Western countries. Emmanuel Macron, the French president, standing alongside the leaders of Germany and Italy, stated, 'We will continue our offensive operations alongside local multinational forces to eradicate jihadist terrorism throughout the region.' Reuters reminds that armed Islamist groups seized northern Mali in 2012, although French troops dispatched to the region managed to push them back in 2013. This event prompted the US and other countries to take the increased threat of jihadist forces in northwestern Africa seriously. About 800 US troops are stationed in Chad, with four of them killed in October of last year. However, globally, the security of these vast desert areas is still not taken seriously. Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, stated that the financial commitment to military operations in the region is a sign of the EU's commitment to establishing stability in the area. She added, 'We cannot only address illegal migration in Libya. These actions must begin in Chad, Mali, and Niger. All of Europe is involved in this issue.' The military operations of the five African countries in the Sahel, headquartered in Mali, are expected to involve around 5,000 personnel, including seven battalions, and will also participate in humanitarian missions and development work. According to the International Red Cross, around 350,000 people passed through Chad in 2017 alone, most of whom are trying to reach the northern shores of Africa to get to Europe. In addition to the EU, the US, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and several other countries also pledged financial support for this mission. France is set to spend approximately €1.2 billion over the next five years on economic development projects in the region, which is about 40% more than the current amount. Other countries are also expected to assist farmers, educational infrastructure, and water supply projects. According to official information, the EU contributes about €8 billion to development projects in the region.