Boko Haram still a threat-French President; as Buhara says group disorganized, now pursuing personal glory’

Boko Haram still a threat-French President; as Buhara says group disorganized, now pursuing personal glory’

Boko Haram remains a threat despite “impressive” military gains against it, French President Francois Hollande said weekend, as regional and Western leaders gathered for talks on the Islamist threat.

“The results (of the counter-insurgency) are impressive” and the rebels had been “diminished and forced to retreat”, he told a news conference in Abuja.

But added: “This terrorist group nevertheless remains a threat.”

Hollande was speaking after talks with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa in the Nigerian capital before regional leaders met to discuss the conflict.

Nearly seven years of violence have left at least 20,000 dead and left more than 2.6 million homeless, devastating infrastructure in Nigeria’s remote northeast and creating a humanitarian crisis.

Discussions at the security summit are expected to focus on the formal deployment of a new regional force comprising troops from Nigeria and its neighbours Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Over the last 15 months, individual armies have largely been acting independently to curb the violence in the face of mounting cross-border attacks, particularly suicide bombings.

The UN Security Council has also raised concerns about Boko Haram’s links to the Islamic State group, after reports of Nigerian fighters in lawless Libya.

Hollande, who sees France as a natural liaison between its former colonies and English-speaking Nigeria, said results had been achieved through better regional coordination.

Paris had also provided training and equipment, he added, as part of the international support to Abuja that includes British military trainers and US surveillance drones.

Hollande and Buhari signed a “letter of intent” to pave the way for a defence agreement.

The two leaders also signed several accords strengthening existing cooperation, including through France’s main development agency, of upwards of $120 million (106 million euros) for Nigeria’s under-capacity electricity sector.

President Muhammadu Buhari on his part, restated the commitment of the federal government in ensuring the safe rescue of the 219 Chibok school girls who were abducted from their dormitories in Chibok, Borno State, over two years ago.

Buhari said “Let me reiterate our firm commitment to safely rescue and re-unite the abducted Chibok girls with their families. Our government will not spare any effort to achieve this important mission.

“It is my firm belief that this summit would usher in a period of improved collaboration to address the menace of terrorism in the region. Inspired by the promise of sustainable peace and development, we must redouble our efforts to implement all agreements.

The event was equally attended by presidents of Chad, Niger, Benin, Togo, Cameroun, Gabon, Senegal and representatives of the UK and Chinese governments.

END