For the G5 Sahel countries, the coronavirus pandemic is now the number one enemy, even before terrorism, as the region has recorded more than 1200 cases. The Foreign Ministers of the G5 Sahel met on April 15 evening by videoconference for their first meeting since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the conference, the foreign ministers of the G5 Sahel launched an appeal to the international financial partners for a cancellation of the African debt. Mauritania, the least affected country with 8 coronavirus cases and one death, shared its experience with the other Sahel states, said the Mauritanian Foreign Minister who chaired the meeting. A new meeting by videoconference will take place on April 24 between the G5 Foreign Ministers and the French Foreign Affairs and Defense Ministers to discuss the security situation, follow-up to the Pau Summit and the new situation created by the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 16, 2020 21:22 UTC