French and German defense ministers to launch Sahel anti-terror force

French Defense Minister Florence Parly starts a swing around three Sahel countries, to be joined by German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, in pursuance of a new G5 Sahel anti-terror force. In Chad, she pledged all the necessary means for their mission to the 4,000-strong French mission shoring up fragile Sahel countries against jihadist assaults. The new force is to be discussed with Chadian President Idriss Deby, Niger’s head of state Mahamadou Issoufou and President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in Mali. Burkina Faso and Mauritanian will also be asked to join. French President Emmanuel Macron has won a commitment in principle from German Chancellor Angela Merkel to support the scheme.