The Defence Headquarters stated plans are underway with junta-led Sahelian countries to reposition the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), a regional power shaped to coordinate warfare towards Boko Haram insurgency affecting the Lake Chad area.
Defence spokesperson Samaila Uba disclosed this on Thursday throughout a joint safety briefing on the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC), a unit within the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in Abuja.
Mr Uba, a Nigerian Army main normal, stated the repositioning effort was mentioned at a regional discussion board that introduced collectively former and serving MNJTF power commanders, teachers and different specialists to look at the way forward for the regional army coalition
According to him, the discussion board additionally examined the implications of the withdrawal of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), also referred to as Alliance des États du Sahel, from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), together with diplomatic options and choices for addressing challenges arising from the withdrawal.
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“We also examined the diplomatic alternatives and options available to address issues arising from the withdrawal of those countries from ECOWAS,” he stated.
Mr Uba stated the discussion board additionally mentioned potential developments and measures to improve the duty power’s effectiveness whereas addressing the safety implications of shifting political alliances within the area.
“I assure you that we will begin to see the dividends of that high-level engagement very soon,” he stated.
PREMIUM TIMES studies that the MNJTF was established in 2015 to fight Boko Haram insurgency affecting countries surrounding the Lake Chad area. The countries that had been a part of the MNJTF embrace Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin. Niger has stopped collaborating in its actions because it joined the AES.
However, the withdrawal of three member countries (Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso) from ECOWAS, following profitable army coups, has raised questions on regional cooperation and diplomatic engagement in addressing shared safety challenges. The three countries exited ECOWAS, shaped AES, and have thus far rejected overtures to return to ECOWAS.
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