Mauritania: Macron pledges French support for G5 Sahel force On the sidelines of the African Union summit in Mauritania, G5 Sahel leaders hold an extraordinary summit with French President Emmanuel Macron. During this meeting, discussions focused on the joint G5 Sahel force and its financing with Macron pledging that France and Europe would continue to be involved in bankrolling the unit. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES