Fledgling 'G5' force ventures into Sahel hotspots A new military force called the “G5 Sahel” has begun its fight jihadists and armed groups in Mali. The international coalition, which includes Mali, Niger, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Chad, is supported by French forces. The region has long been an area where jihadists and other armed groups can operate easily thanks to its wide open desert and porous borders.