N’DJAMENA — Chad President Mahamat Idriss Deby has threatened to withdraw his country from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the Lake Chad region, citing its failure to effectively combat insurgent groups.
Deby’s announcement came during a visit to the region on Sunday, following the deaths of 40 Chadian soldiers in a suspected Boko Haram terrorist attack in late October. He expressed frustration with the lack of cooperation among the MNJTF member countries, which consists of troops from Chad, Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon.
Deby has launched Operation Haskanite on Boko Haram positions, with air strikes and ground troops are on high alert as Boko-Haram terrorists have opted to hide out.
“The lack of joint efforts against the common enemy, which is unfortunately always observed on the ground. This force – created with the aim of pooling efforts and intelligence – seems to be in a slump,” Deby said.
The Lake Chad region has been a hotbed of insurgency, with attacks by Islamic State (IS or Daesh) militants in West Africa and Boko Haram, which originated in northeastern Nigeria in 2009 and spread eastward.
No official responses have yet been issued by Nigeria, Niger, or Cameroon regarding the threat to withdraw.
