Donors Pledge $250m to Fight Boko Haram

Donors at the African Union summit yesterday pledged $250 million (229 million euros) to fight against Boko Haram insurgents, AU Peace and Security Council Chief Smail Chergui, said.

Boko Haram, facing the heat of the military onslaught in Nigeria, has in the past year stepped up cross-border attacks in Niger, Chad and Cameroun, while continuing shooting and suicide assaults on markets, mosques among others mostly civilian targets within Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that despite offensives by the regional force with troops from Benin, Cameroun, Chad, Niger and Nigeria, the Islamist jihadists maintain strongholds in areas that are difficult to access.

But Chergui praised the success of the force at the close of an AU summit last Sunday, saying territory had been wrested back.

“Great results have been achieved and we must consolidate these gains,” he said.

Chergui said $110 million came from Nigeria, with the European Union offering 50 million euros as well as donations from Britain and Switzerland.

Chad’s President, Idriss Deby, the African Union chairman, said it was crucial the money pledged was actually paid to show “our firm commitment in the fight against terrorism.”

The Nigerian Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, said gains had been made but much more needed to be done.

“Boko Haram is no longer able to operate freely as in the past or control territories as they did.

“We are making tremendous progress in this battle, but we still need to remain vigilant, we need to share information and cooperate,” he said.