News / Nigeria

UN Security Council drafts resolution to support anti-Boko Haram fight

Thursday, 12 March 2015 11:03 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 12 March 2015 11:12 PM ]

An overall view of the UN Security Council meeting March 9, 2015 at the United Nations in New York, March 9, 2015. (C) AFP

Members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) have drafted a resolution to financially and logistically support a five-nation regional African force to fight the Takfiri Boko Haram militant group, which is based in Nigeria.

According to the draft resolution, which was obtained by AP on Thursday, the 15-member UN Security Council will provide financial aid, equipment, troops and intelligence “for the successful deployment of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF)” to “create a safe and secure environment in the areas affected by the activities of Boko Haram.”

The text also calls for the immediate release of anyone abducted by Boko Haram, described as “one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.”

The resolution is expected to be approved as early as next week, one of the Council members, Chad, said.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (pictured below) is to establish a trust fund to receive contributions from the international community to help the regional force ahead of a UN-backed benefactor conference scheduled for next month.

The UNSC draft resolution does not specify the figure of the aid that would potentially be granted to the African force.

The development comes about a week after the African Union (AU) approved the creation of the five-nation force to fight Boko Haram.

Nearly 10,000 forces from Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Benin make up the force to fight the extremist group, which has recently launched atrocious cross-border assaults in Nigeria’s neighboring countries.

The draft by the Security Council also threatens to impose sanctions on individuals and groups that arm, support, or finance the Boko Haram terrorists.

Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is forbidden,” says its goal is to overthrow the Nigerian government.

The extremist group has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly shooting attacks and bombings in various parts of Nigeria since the beginning of its activities in 2009.