Press release

UK to provide £5 million support to tackle Boko Haram

Foreign Secretary announces £5 million in UK support for regional task force to tackle Boko Haram.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond MP, has announced £5m of UK support for a new regional Task Force to tackle Boko Haram in northern Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin area. The Multinational Joint Task Force has been mandated by the African Union and a Security Council resolution is currently being negotiated in New York to welcome the force. The UK is working towards the swift adoption of the resolution.

The Task Force consists of contributions from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin, many of whose forces are already operational on the ground and are making significant progress against Boko Haram. The AU has called on international partners to provide support to enable sustained operation of the force.

The Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, said:

I am pleased that the UK will contribute £5m to support the new Multinational Joint Task Force to tackle Boko Haram. The UK fully supports the efforts of Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin to tackle the scourge of Boko Haram. I hope that the international community can send an important message of support through the swift adoption of a Security Council resolution in New York to welcome the force.

Important gains are already being made on the ground in tackling Boko Haram by the regional partners who will contribute to the Task Force. It will continue to play an important role in fighting this terrorist insurgency. I commend the commitment and bravery of the troops involved. The UK continues to stand strong with Nigeria and its neighbours in tackling this heinous group.

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Published 27 March 2015