European Union leaders meet Friday with counterparts from Africa’s Sahel in a show of support for the impoverished region fallen prey to extremists and a key transit point for migrants heading to Europe. (Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Associated Press)BRUSSELS — The Latest on European Union meeting on West Africa’s Sahel region (all times local):1:05 p.m. The European Union’s top diplomat says donors have pledged 414 million euros ($510 million) to five impoverished countries in West Africa’s Sahel region, much of it to fund a counterterror force. The 5,000-strong G5 Sahel force needs around 400 million euros ($500 million) for its mission along its mostly desert borders, including near Libya — the main jumping-off point for migrants bound for Italy. The European Union is pledging 50 million euros ($61 million) to a joint counterterror force in West Africa’s Sahel region, as leaders gather Friday in a show of support for the impoverished nations.

Source: Washington Post February 23, 2018 12:00 UTC