PSC/PR/COMM(DCCLIX) Page 2 the promotion of peace, security and stability in the Sahel, through an ever more effective fight against terrorism, violent extremism and transnational organised crime. 6. Stresses, once again, the need for a sustained and predictable support to the efforts of the countries of the region in the face of increased armed and terrorist groups, as well as criminals. In this regard, Council expresses its gratitude to the bilateral and multilateral partners for their multifaceted assistance to the countries of the Sahelo-Saharan region, in the face of the growing threat of terrorism and violent extremism and welcomes the pledges made at the Conference on The Sahel, held on 23 February 2018, in Brussels, in support of the operationalisation of the G5 Sahel Joint Force. Council urges all countries and organisations that made pledges to honour them, as soon as possible, in order to enable the G5 Sahel Joint Force to more effectively discharge its mandate; 7. Stresses, once again, the need for an African ownership of the efforts in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. In this context, Council welcomes the financial contribution made by Rwanda in support of the brotherly countries of the G5 Sahel and calls upon the other AU Member States, in a position to do so, to also provide assistance to the countries of the region in their efforts towards the promotion and preservation of peace, security and stability on the continent. Council takes note, with appreciation, of the technical support already provided by the Commission to the Permanent Secretariat of the G5 Sahel and looks forward to the redoubling of this assistance with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on 23 March 2018; 8. Reaffirms the need for the G5 Sahel Joint Force to be availed with predictable and sustained resources, in order to be able to more effectively carry out its mandate and requests the Commission, in close cooperation with the African members of the Security Council, to continue consultations to this end; 9. Reaffirms its total support to the stabilisation efforts led by the MINUSMA and pays tribute to its Troop Contributing Countries, for the huge sacrifices being made in the service of the fulfilment of the mandate of the Mission, in spite of the enormous challenges related to the particularly challenging environment and constraints in terms of human resources and equipment, which it is facing the Mission. Council welcomes the adoption by the UN Security Council of Resolution 2391 (2017) requesting MINUSMA to provide logistical support to the G5 Sahel in its operations in Mali. In this regard, Council stresses the importance, in the very particular context of Mali and the Sahel, of reviewing the mandate of MINUSMA, with a view to include an Intervention Brigade, such as the Intervention Brigade in MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Rapid Protection Force within the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and requests the Commission to undertake the necessary consultations in this regard. 10. Reaffirms the importance of the Nouakchott Process in the promotion of peace and security in the Sahelo-Saharan region and the intensification of its activities aimed at the overall efforts of stabilisation and development of the entire Sahel region. Council reiterates the provisions of paragraph 11 (ii)d of its Communiqué of 13 April 2017, on the multifaceted support, including the exchange of intelligence that the member countries of the Nouakchott Process must