NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AP) — African heads of state have pledged to coordinate efforts to improve security on the continent and defeat jihadist organizations, particularly in the Sahel and Nigeria, during talks Monday at the 31st African Union summit being held in Mauritania's capital.

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Nouakchott to discuss the battle against Islamic extremism and ways to finance counterterrorism and peacekeeping operations.

Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz welcomed Macron at the airport Monday. Macron was scheduled to meet with presidents of the G5 Sahel regional group working together to fight extremism. The G5 countries are: Mauritania, Niger, Mali, Chad and Burkina Faso.

Aziz said the newly formed G5 Sahel force has become an important framework for coordinating efforts to promote development and to fight extremism, organized crime and illicit trafficking.