U.N. chief urges support for Sahel force to fight extremists

By EDITH M. LEDERER
UNITED NATIONS  — Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is urging strong international support for a 5,000-strong force to fight the growing threat from extremists in Africa’s vast Sahel region, warning that if urgent action isn’t taken “the stability of the entire region, and beyond, is in jeopardy.”
The U.N. chief said in a report obtained Monday by The Associated Press that the security situation in the Sahel is in “a continuous downwa