French-Backed West African Regional Force on Brink of Collapse

More countries announce that they’re leaving the G5 Sahel security confederation amid rising jihadist attacks by al-Qaeda and ISIS.

Supporters of Capt. Ibrahim Traore wave a Russian flag in the streets of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on Oct. 2, 2022. Sophie Garcia/AP Photo, File

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON—The stage has now been set for the disintegration of the French-backed G5 Sahel regional force set up to tackle jihadism and other challenges in West Africa.

The two remaining members of the alliance–Chad and Mauritania–said on Dec. 6 that they were paving the way for the dissolution of the anti-jihadist grouping after the other three founding countries left.