Socialist International supports regional efforts to combat Boko Haram in West and Central Africa

As renewed meetings of the Lake Chad Basin Commission member states plus Benin get underway today in Niamey, Niger, the Socialist International expresses its full support for such regional efforts to collectively combat terrorism in West and Central Africa, in particular the expanding threat posed by Boko Haram.

The recent fall of Malam Fatori, Damasak and Baga in Nigeria as well as last weekend’s cross-border raids into Cameroon and the seizing of scores more hostages, are further cause for alarm, both on a humanitarian level and in terms of maintaining peace and stability in the region. Since April 2014 when 276 schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram, the world has continued to bear witness to brazen atrocities by this terrorist group including, according to United Nations reports, violence against civilians, abductions, killings, rape, sexual slavery and the recruitment of children as soldiers, amongst other gross human rights violations. The large-scale displacement of people continues to grow, both within Nigeria and into neighbouring countries, adding to the ever increasing humanitarian crisis.

As the SI has previously stated, multilateral solutions are required to counteract terrorism and the international community must stand together in this endeavour. The Socialist International congratulates the government of President Mahamadou Issoufou in Niger for hosting this initiative and reaffirms its solidarity with all those who are engaged in these efforts.