Macron speaks at G5 Sahel meeting in Mauritania

Leaders from the five countries of West Africa's Sahel region — Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger — on Tuesday called for intensifying counter-terrorism operations supported by the French military that have already seen successes in the recent months despite growing jihadist attacks in the region.

The heads of state from the five Sahel countries said the stability of the region below the Sahara Desert remains challenged by persistent attacks, a deteriorating security situation in Libya and the COVID-19 pandemic, and renewed calls for the cancellation of external debts as they deal with the pandemic.

The statements came after meetings between the heads of states Tuesday with French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Mauritania's capital Nouakchott to discuss military operations against Islamic extremists in the region.

"We are all convinced that victory is possible in Sahel," Macron said in a news conference alongside other heads of states.

Macron said his first trip outside Europe since the beginning of the new coronavirus crisis aimed at showing "solidarity" toward the African continent.

The French and African military force has made major gains since the last summit in Pau, France, in January, when it was decided to focus on eliminating the growing threat of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara along the tri-border region of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali.

"France will be there as long as its presence is wanted and requested by the Sahel states," Macron said.

Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani urged richest countries to cancel the poor nations' debt obligations.

"The debt service burden for our countries has become unbearable. It absorbs a significant portion of our national budget," Ghazouani said.

Ghazouani met with Macron and Sanchez before an afternoon discussion with other heads of state, including Burkina Faso's President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou and Chad's President Idriss Deby.

The next summit will be held in 2021 in a Sahel country.