Africa-Russia Summit: G5 Sahel calls on Russia to join fight against terrorism in the Sahel
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - Burkina Faso's head of state, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, who is also the current G5 Sahel chairman, on Thursday called on Russia to join the fight against terrorism in the Sahel.
"I particularly call on Russia to join the International Partnership for Stability and Security in the Sahel proposed at the G7 Summit in Biarritz" in France, Kaboré said in his speech to the Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi.
He said Russia, as a major military and economic power, appears as a partner of choice that can help the Sahel and the West Africa region in its fight against terrorism.
"We dare to believe that today's historic Summit will be the starting point for this fruitful and useful partnership desired for the security and stability of our region," Burkina Faso's president added.
According to him, the fight against terrorism is now a national priority for each of the five G5 Sahel countries and mobilises a large part of national budgets and reduces the share of investment in the social and economic development sectors.
"The answer to terrorism is not just military. It combines in terms of the fight against poverty through projects to develop basic social services, projects to create wealth and employment, projects for young people and projects aimed at empowering women," he stated.
-0- PANA TNDD/JSG/BBA/MA 24Oct2019
