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Tag: LCBC

  • AU, Lake Chad basin countries sign pacts on Boko Haram

    The African Union and member countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on Friday in Abuja, to boost the fight against the Boko Haram.

    The agreements were signed at a meeting of Ministers of Defence of LCBC member countries, comprising Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Benin Republic, rounding off a four-day conference of the commission in Abuja.

    The two agreements are on Mobilisation of Additional Support to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), fighting the terrorists in the basin and Support Implementation Agreement (SIA).

    AU’s Commissioner for Peace and Security, Amb. Smail Chergui, signed on behalf of the union, while the Executive Secretary and Head of Mission of the MNJTF, Mr. Sanusi Abdullahi, signed for the LCBC.

    The agreements will enable the AU commission to receive funds from international partners on behalf of member countries of the LCBC and administer same in support of the MNJTF.

    Chergui commended member countries of the LCBC for their determination in combating the Boko Haram terrorists in the region.

    He said, “This regional initiative is a true reflection of our collective effort for attaining sustainable peace and stability on the continent, using African resources as the primary means for intervention.

    “This collective effort by the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin Republic, the African Union and the international community was instrumental to the operationalisation of the MNJTF.

    “As a result, significant progress has been made toward enabling it (MNJTF) to effectively carry out offensive operations against the Boko Haram terrorist group.

    “Further to this success, the group has been disorganised and has lost the ability to hold territory.”

     

     

     

     

  • Dan- Ali, other defence ministers visit Chadian president

    The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, has appealed to President Idris Deby of Chad to call on all those who pledged financial and material support to Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) to fulfill their promise.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Deby is the current chairman of the African Union.

    A statement by the ministry said the Dan- Ali made the appeal when he led a team of Ministers of Defence and Chiefs of Defence Staff of countries contributing troops to the multinational joint task force to visit Deby.

    The countries are Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroun and Benin.

    The minister and defence chiefs were in N’Djamena for a meeting of the LCBC.

    The statement, issued by Col. Tukur Gusau, the minister’s Public Relations Officer, was made available to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Dan-Ali said the call was necessary to enable the MNJTF execute its mandate in the region effectively.

     

  • How insurgency affect international peace

    How insurgency affect international peace

    • The Security Council recalls its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security

    The Security Council has reaffirmed Member States’ determination to continue to do all they can to resolve conflict and to deny terrorist groups the ability to put down roots and establish safe havens to address better the growing threat posed by terrorism.

    The Council stresses that terrorism can only be defeated by a sustained and comprehensive approach involving the active participation and collaboration of all States and international, regional and sub-regional organizations to counter the terrorist threat.

    According to the council, terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whosoever committed.

    Thus, the council expresses its concern at the continued threat posed to international peace and security by Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad (also known as “Boko Haram” and hereinafter referred to as such) and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with A1-Qaida, reaffirms its resolve to address all aspects of that threat, and reaffirms that terrorism, including the actions of the Boko Haram terrorist group, cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, or civilization.

    The Security Council reiterates its strong condemnation of all the terrorist attacks, abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law by Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin region.

    The council also recognized that women and girls are particularly targeted by Boko Haram, expresses its deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims as well as to the peoples and Governments of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured.

    The Security Council recalls that those responsible for abuses and violations of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law must be held accountable and brought to justice.

    The Security Council takes note of the Communiques of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) of 25 November, 2014 on the threat posed by Boko Haram and the efforts of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) Member States (Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria) and Benin to combat Boko Haram.

    It further takes note of the Letter sent by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) to the United Nations Secretary-General on 6 March 2015, forwarding the Communiques adopted by the AUPSC on 29 January and 3 March 2015, as well as the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Strategic Concept of Operations (CONOPS) to fight against Boko Haram.

    The Council, while acknowledging the progress made on the ground following joint regional military efforts in recent months, condemns strongly the continued deadly attacks perpetrated by the Boko Haram terrorist group, particularly against civilians and encourages increased regional cooperation.

    The Security Council encourages all actors involved in the response to support recovery programmes and the provision of the necessary protection measures for civilians, and to pay particular attention to the release and reintegration of children abducted by Boko Haram or formerly associated with this terrorist group.

    It recalls that Boko Haram has been designated as associated with Al-Qaida by the Committee established, pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) and in this regard, expresses its readiness to consider listing individuals, groups, undertakings and entities providing support to Boko Haram, including those who are financing, arming, planning or recruiting for Boko Haram and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaida through information and communications technologies including the Internet and social media or through any other means.

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  • Boko Haram: Multinational troops for Borno

    Nigeria’s northern neigbours – Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic – are to reinforce their support for the battle against Boko Haram.

    The four countries will from November 1 deploy troops to form a multi-national Joint Task Force to tackle the deadly sect. The base of the force, which will be headed by a chief of staff, will be in Baga, Borno State.

    They will be operating under the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) member – countries, to be joined by  Benin Republic, Nigeria’s western neighbour.

    The force is expected to take off on November 20.

    The decision was reached yesterday at the LCBC security meeting in Abuja, which also adopted the draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the African Union (AU) on terrorism.

    UN resolution 1556 (2004) considers terrorism as the greatest threat to international peace and security and agreed on the need for an appropriate legal framework for military operations against Boko Haram insurgents.

    The multi-national task force will take off after the Heads of state and government of the LCBC member states and Benin Republic must have ratified the resolution.

    Foreign Affairs Minister  Amb. Aminu Wali told reporters at the end of the meeting, which was attended by foreign and Defence ministers of LCBC member-countries and Benin Republic, that the adopted draft resolution would be sent to the heads of state and government of the LCBC member states and Benin Republic.

    He said the meeting “requested the Republic of Niger to introduce the draft resolution to the peace and security council of the AU. Republic of Chad and Nigeria should introduce the resolution to the UNSC.

    Wali said the meeting urged member-states’ Permanent Representatives in New York and their ambassadors in Addis Ababa to hold consultations with a view to ensuring the adoption of the resolution by UNSC and AU.

    Wali spoke of the need to tackle Boko Haram, saying the meeting “must define the nature and scope of this struggle, which we must win or else, it will define us”.

    Lake Chad Basin Commission Executive Secretary Sanusi Abdullahi said  the multinational Joint Task Force is to “give us a tool for the fight against all forms of terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin and in the member-countries or at least in the member countries that have signed this declaration at the extraordinary summit.”

    Abdullahi, who responded to questions on location of the military base, said Nigeria’s minister of defence was expected to explain to his colleagues in the member-countries how secure the place is.

    Niger and Chad have deployed their batallions at locations within their countries.

    Nigerian troops are in Baga. Cameroon is preparing to deploy its contingent of a battalion within its border in the Lake Chad Basin, until the legal arrangements are finalised for the operation of the force.

    President Goodluck Jonathan expressed confidence that intensification of joint patrols, military operations and intelligence sharing by Nigeria and neighbouring countries as agreed by their leaders in Niamey last week, would curtail the insurgency and other cross-border crimes.

    He spoke while welcoming the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs of Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Benin Republic, who were in Abuja to work with their Nigerian counterparts on a legal framework for the cross-border military operations.

    Jonathan said: “I believe that if we cooperate more and monitor our borders closely, the movement of criminals and terrorists as well as small arms and ammunition across our shared borders will also be drastically reduced.”

    With their collective experience and professionalism, he said, the visiting ministers and their Nigerian counterpart should come up with an effective action plan for the successful implementation of the decisions reached by the leaders of Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Benin Republic at their meeting in Niamey on October 7.

    A statement by presidential spokesman Reuben Abati said: “At that meeting, the leaders announced plans to step up the fight against Boko Haram. A communiqué issued after the meeting said that a command centre for a multinational force headed by a chief of staff will be in place by November 20.”

    “The leaders also agreed to finalise the deployment of troops promised by member-states to form the multinational force within their national borders by November 1.”

    The visiting ministers at the audience with President Jonathan are: Niger’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohammed Bazoun, Cameroon’s Minister of External Relations Mr. Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, Chad’s Minister of Defence Mr. Benaindo Tatola, Chad’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Muossa Faki Mahamat, Niger’s Minister of Defence Mr. K. Mahamadou, Benin’s Minister of Defence Mr. Robert Yarou, Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Nassirou Bako Arifari and Cameroon’s Minister of Defence Mr. Edgar Alain Debe Ngo’o.