Close X
Friday, December 27, 2024
ADVT 
International

Western partners, African leaders vow to fight Boko Haram

Darpan News Desk Darpan, 17 May, 2014 03:12 PM
    French President Francois Hollande, West African leaders and representatives of Western powers Saturday voiced determination to forge a strong front to fight militant group Boko Haram.
     
    In a final communique of the one-day "Paris summit for security in Nigeria", leaders of Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger and Western partners pledged to "intensify regional and international mobilisation... by strengthening the international means for the liberation of the abducted schoolgirls and more generally to combat Boko Haram," Xinhua reported. 
     
    "France, the United States and the United Kingdom are committed to supporting this regional cooperation and strengthening the international means to combat Boko Haram," said a statement released by Hollande's office, the Elysee.
     
    This came around a month after Nigeria-based Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls and menaced to "sell them on the marke".
     
    Participants at Saturday's summit agreed to "build analysis and response capabilities that will contribute to enhancing the security of all populations and the rule of law in the areas affected by Boko Haram's terrorist acts".
     
    On regional level, they vowed to implement coordinated patrol to locate the missing schoolgirls, establish a system to pool intelligence and mechanisms for information exchange on trafficking of weapons and finally to improve border control.
     
     
    On international level, "the participants commit to accelerating the implementation of international sanctions against Boko Haram, Ansaru and their main leaders, within the United Nations framework as a priority", the statement said.
     
    "Boko Haram has anti-civilisation strategy to destabilise Nigeria and the destruction of the fundamental principles of human freedom also," Hollande told reporters after Saturday's meeting.
     
    "An overall plan must be implemented to exchange information, coordinate activities, control borders and act appropriately." 
     
    Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the abduction of 276 schoolgirls during a raid in the village of Chibok in north-east Nigeria last month.
     
    All of the schools in the area had been closed because of a recent spate of terrorist attacks in which students were the apparent targets.
     
    The incident triggered global outrage and raised calls for close security cooperation to fight terror cells in the region.
     
    While international efforts were underway, about 50 of the girls have so far managed to escape from their abductors.
     
    Some members of the Islamist militant group have been arrested and international efforts were under way to rescue the schoolgirls.
     
    Boko Haram meaning "western education is a sin", since its formation in 2002 has killed about 10,000 people. The group has killed about 1,500 Nigerians since the beginning of this year.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    US Inflicts Visa Restrictions and Property Ban Over Ukraine

    US Inflicts Visa Restrictions and Property Ban Over Ukraine
    Ukraine is catching much attention in world politics after the recent turmoil deepened in the country. Latest reports from the scene state that US is imposing visa restrictions and moving to freeze US assets of those involved in Russia's move on Ukraine.

    US Inflicts Visa Restrictions and Property Ban Over Ukraine

    An Indian hand in Saudi Arabia-Iran reconciliation?

    An Indian hand in Saudi Arabia-Iran reconciliation?
    Are regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia heading for a rapprochement? Is there an Indian hand in this? Talk on the possible development in the Gulf swirled in the diplomatic and strategic circles as India played host to Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia

    An Indian hand in Saudi Arabia-Iran reconciliation?

    'Saudi economy is dependent on Indian workers'

    'Saudi economy is dependent on Indian workers'
    On Saudi Arabia's new "Nitaqat" labour policy that saw some 140,000 Indian expatriates returning home, Almunajjed said only those working illegally were affected.

    'Saudi economy is dependent on Indian workers'

    US College Board announces SAT overhaul

    US College Board announces SAT overhaul
    Creators of the US college entrance examination SAT have announced an overhaul of the test, eliminating mandatory essays, ending penalty for guessing wrong and cutting obscure vocabulary words.

    US College Board announces SAT overhaul

    Ukraine denies 'money-for-missile shield' talks with US

    Ukraine denies 'money-for-missile shield' talks with US
    Ukraine is not holding any talks on the deployment of US missile defence units on its territory in exchange for financial support, Ukrainian Ambassador in Belarus capital Minsk Mikhail Yezhel said Wednesday.

    Ukraine denies 'money-for-missile shield' talks with US

    Curious case of Yuan's strength: Still a one-way bet?

    Curious case of Yuan's strength: Still a one-way bet?
    Over the past four years, the gradual appreciation of the Chinese Yuan against the US dollar was considered a one way bet by currency traders.

    Curious case of Yuan's strength: Still a one-way bet?