French PM urges joint stand to drive back jihadists in Sahel

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe yesterday urged partners to commit to stand with Paris in driving back jihadi violence in the Sahel.

"We require everyone's commitment to progress towards durable stabilisation. Nobody can boast of being able to do without the backing of others," Philippe said, citing a Malian proverb at his troop's headquarters at Gao.

He was speaking days after the African Union's peace and security chief Smail Chergui urged member states to tackle the root causes of extremism in the Sahel region.

France is backing a 5,000-man joint mission among the five nation G5 Sahel force on the front line: Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad.