African Union approves creation of anti-Boko Haram force
The African Union (AU) has approved the creation of a regional force to fight Nigeria-based Boko Haram militants, who have recently launched brutal cross-border assaults in neighboring countries, diplomatic sources say.
The force, comprised of up to 10,000 men from Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Benin, will “operate freely” in the region around Lake Chad, unnamed African diplomats said on Friday.
Nigeria “has a problem with agreeing to have foreign troops on its soil”; thus, the troops will not operate in Nigeria, according to a diplomat.
This will restrict the force to counter just the cross-border attacks by the terrorists.
While the troops will be provided with “logistical support”, financial backing will pose a great problem for the collective measure, diplomats said.
The idea for the creation of the force was adopted at an AU summit in late January, when the participants also urged the United Nations Security Council to approve the plan.
On January 31, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon threw his weight behind the establishment of the force.
“I welcome the decision of the AU and regional countries to establish an MJTF (Multinational Joint Task Force) against Boko Haram,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the 24th Summit of the African Union in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
The force, which is set to be based in Chad’s capital city of N’Djamena, will be mandated “to prevent the spread of Boko Haram activities and other terrorist groups” and “eradicate their presence,” AU’s Peace and Security Council agreed in a meeting earlier this week.
Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is forbidden,” controls large parts of northeastern Nigeria and says its goal is to overthrow the Nigerian government.
It has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly shooting attacks and bombings in various parts of Nigeria since the beginning of its militancy in 2009, which have left over 13,000 people dead and 1.5 million displaced.
Boko Haram, which is considered the biggest security threat in Nigeria, Africa's top oil producer and largest economy, has also carried out attacks in the neighboring countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
MSM/AS/MHB
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