Dissolution of the G5 Sahel: Mauritania and Chad take joint action
In the wake of the departure of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the G5 Sahel, the remaining member countries, Chad and Mauritania, have initiated the dissolution proceedings of the organization in favor of the newly established Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in September 2023.
Following the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, members of the ESA, Chad and Mauritania have taken the necessary steps to invoke Article 20 of the Convention establishing the G5 Sahel, which pertains to the dissolution of the organization.
The G5 Sahel, an initiative created at the behest of France, aimed to bring together five Sahel countries to address security and development challenges.
However, the recent withdrawals have highlighted its declining popularity and effectiveness.
Mali set the precedent by leaving the G5 Sahel in 2022, prompting Burkina Faso and Niger to follow suit.
With only Chad and Mauritania remaining, the dissolution of the organization became inevitable.
In their joint statement, the heads of state of Mauritania and Chad, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani and Mahamat Idriss Déby, acknowledged the challenges faced by the G5 Sahel but emphasized its role as a relevant mechanism for cooperation between sub-regional armed and security forces.
While the G5 Sahel aimed to tackle the dual challenges of security and development in the sub-region, questions have arisen about its effectiveness in achieving these objectives.
The departure of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the organization indicates a broader dissatisfaction.
Observers note that, despite noble ambitions, the G5 Sahel lacked the necessary resources, particularly financial, to fulfil its mandate effectively.
Furthermore, the decision by Chad and Mauritania to dissolve the G5 Sahel is seen by some as a subtle endorsement of the ESA, emphasizing its perceived effectiveness in combating terrorism compared to the G5 Sahel designed by France.
Mauritania and Chad, while expressing their commitment to regional collaboration, have pledged to work with all Sahel countries to address the challenges facing the region.
They are taking the required measures, in accordance with the provisions of the G5 Sahel’s Convention, to dissolve the group following the earlier withdrawals of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Article 20 of the Convention stipulates that the organization may be dissolved at the request of at least three members, a condition now met with the withdrawals of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
Despite the dissolution, Chad and Mauritania remain committed to regional cooperation in addressing the pressing issues confronting the Sahel.
Maurice K. ZONGO
