UN blacklists Nigeria’s Boko Haram, imposes sanctions
UNIT D NATI NS A The United Nations blacklisted and imposed sanctions on oko Haram as an al- aedalinked terror group Thursday, a month after it claimed the kidnapping of more than Nigerian schoolgirls.
The designation, which was immediately welcomed by ritain and the United States, came into effect after no objections were raised by the Security ouncil s 15 members.
The move subjects oko Haram to UN sanctions, including an arms embargo, asset freeze and travel ban.
The group, which was created 1 years ago, demands the creation of an Islamic state in mainly uslim northern Nigeria. Their attacks have left thousands dead since .
US ambassador Samantha ower hailed the move as “an important step” in support of Nigeria s efforts “to defeat oko Haram and hold its murderous leadership accountable for atrocities.”
Nigeria, criticized by the United States for failing to react uickly enough to the rise of oko Haram, had asked the al aeda sanctions committee to blacklist the group and impose sanctions.
“It is significant step,” Nigerian ambassador oy gwu told reporters in anticipation on ednesday. “The important thing is to attack the problem and that is terrorism,” she added.
perts uestion whether sanctions will have any real impact on a group based in a part of Nigeria that operates on a cash economy.
oko Haram claimed responsibility for the kidnapping in mid-April of more than schoolgirls in hibok, in northeastern Nigeria which sparked international outrage.