Call for UN Mandate to Fight Terrorists in Africa

France has asked the UN Security Council to authorize the deployment of a five-nation African military force to fight terrorists in the Sahel region. A draft resolution circulated to the 15-member council would give the Sahel force a UN mandate to “use all necessary means” to “combat terrorism, drug trafficking and trafficking in persons”, France24 reported. The UN Security Council could vote on the draft resolution as early as next week, diplomats said. French Ambassador Francois Delattre said he expected the council to back the measure, drafted under chapter 7 of the UN charter, which provides for the use of force. “We cannot afford to let the Sahel region become a new safe haven for terrorists from across the region,” he told reporters. The draft resolution would authorize the deployment of the force of up to 5,000 military, police and civilian personnel for an initial period of 12 months.