AU Summit: Multiple challenges and issues lie ahead

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02:30

The African Union commission is calling for a more aggressive approach against militants in Mali and the Sahel region by the G5 Sahel group. The commission has also reiterated its full support and commitment to Mali's immigrant questions. Here's CGTN's Robert Nagila now with the latest from the AU summit in Nouakchott, Mauritania.

French President Emanuel Macron arrived at the AU summit on Monday afternoon with security very much on his mind. Multiple attacks in Mali and Niger in recent days, ahead of Mali's elections had put security firmly on the AU's agenda.

EMMANUEL MACRON FRENCH PRESIDENT "Many French soldiers were injured but African civilians were killed by terrorists. They were the first victims. It's normal that we fight them and here. I want to confirm the engagement of France and all G5 countries to fight against terrorism."

ROBERT NAGILA NOUAKCHOTT, MAURITANIA "The leaders are also calling on the international community to release more than $500 million pledged to support the regional G5 Sahel security force, at conference in Brussels early this year."

AU member states are calling for the deployment of a regional force to take on militants in the region. On the migrant question, African leaders vowed to do more to stem the flow of immigrants to Europe. Hundreds of Africans have died off the Libyan Coast trying to make the perilous journey to Europe.

PAUL KAGAME RWANDAN PRESIDENT "We are trying to find the best way to deal with that problem whose roots, whose context we fully understand. It is a complex problem but people working together we can find a solution. One of them is to get organized and apply the resources from either side where the migrants are coming from and where they are going."

South Africa, Namibia, Burundi, Sierra Leone and Lesotho signed the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, bringing the total number of countries on board to 49. The summit also tackled issues on corruption and gender empowerment among others. Robert Nagila, CGTN, Nouakchott, Mauritania.