Burkina Faso minister warns terrorists gain ground in Sahel

UNITED NATIONS – The foreign minister of Burkina Faso is warning that terrorist activity in Africa's volatile Sahel region is gaining ground and there is "a very real risk" of destabilizing the whole region.

Alpha Barry told the U.N. Security Council on Thursday that combatting terrorism in the Sahel is a fight "for the very survival" of the five countries that have joined forces to fight Islamic State and other extremist groups.

But Barry said participation by Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger in the G5 Sahel Joint Force "cannot succeed alone" and it is time for the international community to consider creating an international coalition to address the challenge.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres again urged U.N. funding for the G5 force in his latest report, but the United States remains strongly opposed.