African nations unite against extremists

PARIS — The heads of state of five West African countries, including Nigeria, met yesterday with Western officials and agreed to share intelligence and strengthen military cooperation to combat the regional threat from the extremist Islamist group Boko Haram, which abducted more than 200 schoolgirls in northern Nigeria last month.

At the request of Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, President Francois Hollande of France organized the meeting, which also was attended by the heads of state of Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Benin, countries that border Nigeria and long have been suspicious of one another.

The borders among the countries are notoriously porous, and Boko Haram’s adherents have easily slipped across them.

“We have decided to set up a general, regional action plan on the medium and longer term,” Hollande said, noting that there would be “intelligence coordination, sharing of information, centralization of means, border surveillance,” among other activities.

“We know the threat, it is serious, it is dangerous for the region, for Africa, and so for Europe,” he said.

Jonathan underscored Nigeria’s “commitment to a regional approach” to the problem. “Without West African countries coming together, we will not be able to crush these terrorists,” he said.

The goals of the meeting were relatively modest, but meant to be a first step toward persuading the countries to work together. Senior U.S., British and European diplomats also attended.

Nigeria is a former British colony, but the other four countries were formerly under French rule.