Multinational Task Force HQ inaugurated

Based in N’Djamena, Chad, it will have a total strength of approximately 100 military and civilian personnel.

The fight against Boko Haram has reached another milestone with the official inauguration on May 25, 2015 of the operational headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in N’Djamena, Chad.

A United Nations/African Union joint mission was received in audience on May 27, 2015 in Yaounde by the Minister of External Relations, Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo.

The mission comprised the Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA), Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, and the Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union (AU), Ambassador Smaïl Chergui.

Speaking to the press after the audience, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas renewed the support from the UN and AU for Cameroon’s efforts undertaken against the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

“What is needed now is to continue to mobilise all the support from the international community and indeed some contributions are already being made. It is important to understand that this terrorist group will be defeated, ” he said.

While waiting for the UN Resolution, he said the May 25 event in N’Djamena was a sign of the determination of the countries concerned with support of the African Union to move ahead with the fight.

According to a press release from the African Union, the ceremony in N’Djamena held in the margins of the 16th ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

The MNJTF operational Headquarters will have a total strength of approximately 100 military and civilian personnel provided by the Lake Chad Basin Commission member States and Benin.

It will include liaison officers deployed by the AU and bilateral and multilateral partners. The headquarters will operate under the authority of Major General Tukur Y. Buratai of Nigeria, Commander of the Force.