Burkina Faso and Niger Withdraw from G5 Sahel Anti-Jihadist Force

The military leaders of Burkina Faso and Niger have announced their decision to withdraw from the G5 Sahel anti-jihadist force, dealing a blow to the fight against insurgents in the troubled Sahel region. The G5 Sahel, which was created in 2014, has yielded limited results, with Mali also leaving the force last year following a military coup. The leaders of Burkina Faso and Niger cited the failure of the organization to achieve its objectives and expressed concerns about foreign interests and the lack of sovereignty in their decision to withdraw.