US focus turns to Boko Haram

US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, Sarah Sewall, would be focusing on civilian security issues when she travels to Nigeria, Chad, and Cameroon.

“The trip will focus on issues related to civilian security, with an emphasis on the fight against Boko Haram, countering violent extremism, and the dire humanitarian and stabilisation needs in the Lake Chad Basin region,” the US State Department said yesterday. She will travel to Nigeria to meet representatives from the government, civil society, and the international community to raise urgent humanitarian and stabilisation challenges, along with the need for a political resolution to the ongoing crisis in the Niger Delta region. She will also meet women and girls who had been captured by Boko Haram to learn about their unique challenges returning and reintegrating into society.

She will also meet inter-faith and civil society leaders about their role in countering corruption, refuting violent ideologies and reducing religious and communal tension.

The same broad issues are on the agenda on her trip to Chad and Cameroon. – ANA