European Union offers €50m in Boko Haram war
Nigerien soldiers patrolling on a road between Diffa and Bosso. Nigeria's military has clawed back swathes of territory held by Boko Haram. European Union has offered €50m in the fight against Boko Haram. PHOTO | AFP
What you need to know:
- Reports show that as a result of Boko Haram’s attacks, more than 13,000 have been killed, 2.5 million people have been internally displaced, and an estimated 250 000 people fled to neighbouring countries from North-east of Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger.
- The escalation of violence has disrupted regional agricultural production and unsettled local markets, causing increasing malnutrition.
- The scope is to prevent Boko Haram’s ability to move across borders when fighting uncoordinated bilateral operations.
ADDIS ABABA, Monday
The African Union (AU) signed on Monday an agreement on €50 million (Ksh5.6 billion) support from the EU’s “African Peace Facility” to the Lake Chad Basin Commission Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in its fight against Boko Haram.
Following the donor conference organised by African Union Commission early February 2016, the European Commission adopted in April 2016 a financing decision setting aside €50 million from the African Peace Facility in support of the battle against Boko Haram.
Reports show that as a result of Boko Haram’s attacks, more than 13,000 have been killed, 2.5 million people have been internally displaced, and an estimated 250 000 people fled to neighbouring countries from North-east of Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger.
The escalation of violence has disrupted regional agricultural production and unsettled local markets, causing increasing malnutrition.
“This agreement comes at a time of renewed efforts by the member countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) and Benin to eliminate the threat posed by the Boko Haram terrorist group and create conditions for the rehabilitation of the affected areas and people.
We commend the countries of the region for the progress made over the past months in ensuring a coordinated regional response through the MNJTF. The agreement we have signed today will further strengthen the regional coordination of the response,” EU said in its press statement.
“Our support will allow for the construction and maintenance of MNJTF headquarters in Ndjamena as well as of sector Headquarters in Cameroon and Niger.
CO-ORDINATE OPERATIONS
‘‘We will also provide transport and communication assets to the force headquarters, allowing for effective coordination and command of military operations,” it said.
These assets, including vehicles, aerial transportation and reconnaissance capacities and a command, control, communication and information system, will put the central command in a position to co-ordinate operations among troop contributing countries in their respective territories.
The scope is to prevent Boko Haram’s ability to move across borders when fighting uncoordinated bilateral operations.
EU established the African Peace Facility (APF) in December 2003 in order to respond to an African request to support its peace and security agenda based on the recognition that peace is a necessary precondition for sustainable development.
Over the years, the APF has become one of the key instruments for implementing the Africa-EU cooperation on Peace and Security. More than €2 billion has been allocated to the APF since its inception.
A total amount of €1.7 billion has been contracted and almost €1.6 billion have been paid through this instrument until the end of 2015, according to the EU.
