African Union has called for a regional five-nation force of 7,500 troops to fight Nigeria’s Boko Haram Islamist militants. The statement came on Friday after Boko Haram increased cross border raids in recent weeks.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday welcomed the decision of the AU and regional countries to establish an MJTF (Multinational Joint Task Force) against Boko Haram,” Boko Haram is “a clear danger to national, regional and international peace and security”. Moon told reporters during an African Union summit being held in the Ethiopian capital.
“They have committed unspeakable brutality. Those terrorists should be addressed with a regional and international cooperation,” he added.
At least 13,000 people have been killed and more than a million made forced from their homes by Boko Haram violence since 2009.
The proposed force was backed by the AU’s Peace and Security Council on Friday, and the pan-African body is now seeking UN Security Council approval plus a “Trust Fund” to pay for it.