AU boosts task force to 10,000 soldiers

The UN Security Council’s resolution is still awaited as coalition forces record successes on the ground.

The African Union last Friday March 6, 2015, upgraded its proposed Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) for tackling Boko Haram insurgents to 10,000 men.

The decision, taken by the A.U. Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was indeed an approval of the task force whose troops will reportedly be contributed by Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger; all member countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission affected by Boko Haram attacks.

The A.U. decision is a new development, considering that only a resolution from the Security Council of the United Nations Organisation (UNO) as well as a Special Fund was being awaited for the formal operation of a 7,500-man MJTF fixed by the A.U. during the 24th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Governments on January 31, 2015.

The recommendation by experts of the Lake Chad Basin Commission to increase the MJTF strength to 8,700 was made in Yaounde after the A.U. meeting. The Extraordinary Session of the Defence and Security Commission (CDS) of the Peace and Security Council of Central Africa (COPAX), brought together Heads of States and Governments of member countries in Yaounde.

The confab, which held on February 16, 2015, was aimed at formulating a collective strategy for Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) in fighting Boko Haram.

Meanwhile, reports from the battlefront speak of four-prong progress by Defence Forces of Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Nigeria. With Cameroon ferociously defending its territory, Chadian forces have crossed over into Borno State in north eastern Nigeria, conquering the Boko Haram strongholds of Gambaru, near the Cameroonian border in late February, and Dikwa some 50 km from Gambaru, early March.

Chadian and Niger Defence Forces on the other hand have opened up another front, operating from conquered localities such as Diffa to push into the north-eastern town of Damasak.

Nigerian forces are equally scoring successes, taking the localities of Mafa and Marte Local Government Areas of Borno State, the Daily Trust newspaper of Nigeria reported, quoting a statement by the Acting Army Spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman.

Even as Boko Haram declares its allegiance to the Islamic State, its goal of creating an Islamic caliphate is seriously being thwarted with new battlefront realities.