France on Friday sought to address US reservations over its request that the United Nations authorize an African military force tasked with fighting jihadists in the Sahel region.

Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger -- which make up the G5 -- agreed in March to set up a special counter-terrorism operation of 5,000 troops for the Sahel region.

On Tuesday, France presented a draft resolution that would give a UN mandate to the G5 troops to "use all necessary means" to "combat terrorism, drug trafficking and trafficking in persons."

A revised draft resolution circulated to the Security Council on Friday specified that the armed groups to be targeted by the five-nation force are on the UN terror list.

The United States had said the mandate lacked precision and that a council statement instead of a full-fledged resolution would provide sufficient support.

"We find the mandate of the force way too broad, lacking precision," a US official said, adding that it would "set a dangerous precedent" by authorizing the use of force for a broad range of activities.

Under the proposed resolution, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres would be asked to provide a report to the council on ways to support the Sahel force through logistical and financial means.

The European Union has already agreed to give 50 million euros to the regional force, but the United States and Britain are unwilling to commit UN funds for the operation, diplomats said.

"The real issue is money," a Security Council diplomat said, asking not to be named.

The United States argued that the council did not authorize the Chadian-led regional force fighting Boko Haram through a UN mandate, although it expressed support for its mission in statements.

France is pushing for a UN mandate in response to a request from the African Union that the Security Council authorize the regional force.

"While we support a G5 Sahel joint force in principle as a potentially important example of African efforts to fight extremism... Security Council resolutions are not the only -- nor always the most advisable -- means of providing necessary political support," the US official said.

A vote on the draft resolution could take place next week.

France carried out a military intervention in Mali in 2013 to drive out jihadist groups, some of which were linked to Al-Qaeda, which had seized key cities in the country's north.

Although the Islamists have been largely ousted from the north, jihadist groups continue to mount attacks on civilians and UN forces in violence that has engulfed parts of central Mali.

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EU to give 50 million euros for African force in Sahel
Bamako (AFP) June 6, 2017
The EU is giving 50 million euros to set up a joint African military force in the Sahel region to fight jihadists, the bloc's foreign affairs chief said Monday. The funds will help pay for the troops to fight terrorism, cross-border crime and illegal immigration, European Union diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini said in the Mali capital Bamako. "Stability and development of the Sahel re ... read more

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