The Government of Rwanda has committed one million dollars towards the operationalisation of the G5 Sahel Joint Force, a five-country partnership with an aim to route uproot groups linked to Al Qaeda and Islamic State from the Sahel Region in Northern Africa.

The G5 member states are Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Chad, which have been hit hardest by terrorists linked to the two extremist groups.

The contribution was announced by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat in a statement released Thursday, during which he appealed to other AU member states to contribute towards the force.

According to a statement from the commission, this contribution is a strong expression of solidarity with the G5 Sahel countries in their fight against terrorism and organized crime.

Rwanda also pledged to provide in-kind support.

President Kagame, who is the current Chairperson of the African Union, made the pledge during his meeting with President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, the Chairperson of the Commission, and the Executive Secretary of the G5 Sahel, Maman Sidiko.

The meeting took place in Kigali.

"I wish to thank (President Kagame) for Rwanda's generous 1million US dollar contribution in support of the G5 Sahel joint force following a meeting in Kigali today. This strong expression of solidarity with G5 Sahel countries in their fight against terrorism is greatly appreciated!" Mahamat tweeted after the meeting.

About the Joint Force

The G5 Sahel Joint Force launched its first regional operation earlier this month to drum up support for the new initiative.

In its initial phase, G5 member states will seek to improve security along their shared borders, through improved cooperation and deployment of joint patrols to interdict the flow of terror groups and traffickers that currently cross these porous national boundaries with ease.