NIGERIA-BOKO HARAM/NIGER Multinational force against Boko Haram soon operational, Niger president says

Record ID: 149920

  • Title: NIGERIA-BOKO HARAM/NIGER Multinational force against Boko Haram soon operational, Niger president says
  • Date: 2nd June 2015
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JUNE 2, 2015) (AGENCY POOL) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS HOLLANDE GREETING NIGER PRESIDENT MAHAMADOU ISSOUFOU FRENCH AND EUROPEAN FLAGS HOLLANDE AND ISSOUFOU SHAKING HANDS AND ENTERING ELYSEE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE ENTRANCE TO ELYSEE PALACE VARIOUS OF HOLLANDE AND ISSOUFOU TALKING ROUNDTABLE MEETING WITH DELEGATIONS OF NIGE
  • Embargoed: 17th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABXTSM78N63LH1FMVV678OZ86A
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The multinational joint force to fight Boko Haram in the region of Lake Chad should be operational in the coming weeks, the President of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, said in Paris on Tuesday (June 2).
    Approved in March by the African Union, the force of some 8,700 military personnel will be funded in part by the international community.
    "We also talked about the situation in the southern part of our country where Boko Haram is active in the area around Lake Chad. We think that in the weeks to come, with the new administration that is taking over in Nigeria, the multinational joint force will become operational," Issoufou said after a meeting with French President Francois Hollande.
    A written statement by the Elysee said that Hollande had highlighted the France's capacity to continue its logistical and intelligence support to countries bordering Lake Chad to fight against the group that is mainly active in north-eastern Nigeria.
    The two presidents also discussed the situation in Libya as a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi and members of a U.S.-led coalition fighting the militant group Islamic State was taking place in the French capital.
    "We hope for reconciliation between Libyans and even a (military) intervention to root out terrorists and in particular Daesh (Islamic State) who have settled in Libya," Issoufou said.
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