Tchad Journalier

N'Djamena
, Chad
Sunday, March 15, 2015
2 pages
__________________________________________________________________________________________

A Regional Task Force,

Finally!
____________________________________

(Special Forces on patrol in Baga, Nigeria)

Chad, who is part of the Multinational Joint

Task Force (MNJTF) with Niger, Nigeria,
Cameroon, and Benin has finally formed a
planinthefightagainstBokoHaram,that

plan has just been approved by the African

1
Union.
Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram
garnered international attention after the
kidnapping of more than 200 female students
from the Borno State of Nigeria. The girls
were taken to be converted to Islam and tobe
2
made into slaves and wives.
Nigerian
Mohammed Yusuf founded Boko Haram in
2002, the group's official name is
Jama'atu
Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati walJihad, which in
Arabic means "People Committed to the
Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and
Jihad". They strive towards creating an
Islamicstate,believingthatWesternidealsare
evil and forbidden. Mohammed Yusuf was
killed in 2009 by the Nigerian government,
and inthepastsixyearsBokoHaram hasonly
grown stronger, having killed thousands and
3,1
affectingmorethan3millionpeople.
The Chadian Forces have been at the
forefrontofthebattleagainstBokoHaram.

The country is in fear of supply routes

being cut off due to Boko Haram, and took
action once their imports were closed off due
1,4
to violencecausedbythetheterroristgroup.
Cameron which sharesaNorthernborderwith
Nigeria has raised their security from 700 to
7000 troops. Chadian soldiers have organized
attacks from Fotokol, Cameroon to the
Nigerian Borno State, a Boko Haram
5
stronghold.
Outofthetwelvetownsthatwere
captured by Boko Haram, the military has
1
recapturedeight.
The question is do any of these forces
have the ability to maintain this tempo,
particularly the Chadians and, to a lesser
degree, the Nigerians, said Crisis Groups
Africa deputy programme director, Ernst
4
Hogendoorn.
The MNJTF regional forcewill
be led by Nigerian generals, but this plan is
only in effect after six years of nonaction
against Boko Harams rising attacks.
Nigerias president, Goodluck Jonathan , who
isstrivingtobereelectedintheupcoming

election, has made little effort to work with

bordering countries to defeat Boko Haram.
Jonathan has delayed the election untilMarch
28 to focus on Boko Haram, causing some to
believe that this isapolitical strategytorepair
his image. Nigerias unwillingness to allow
other militaries in theircountryisalsoa result
of the border tension between Nigeria and
4
Cameroon.
The forming of the regional force
has been a big step towards defeating Boko
Haram, but Chad, due to economic falls, may
notbeabletosustainthefightinNigeria.

Although the MNJTF has now formed a

plan, the question remains whether these
African militaries have actually progressed?
More than a year has passed and the276girls
remain in captivity by Boko Haram and more
people continue to suffer everyday. Boko
Haram is not theonlyregionalproblem.More
than half of Chad is in poverty and Nigeria,
the birthplace of Boko Haram struggles with
6
corruptpolitics.

Niger, Cameroon and Chad say Nigeria

neglected the uprising of Boko Haram in its
economically backward northeastBornostate,
which is home to only 2% of Nigerias
4
170million people.
As Malala an activist for
womens rights said, If these girls were the
children of politically or financially powerful
parents, much more would be done to free
them. But they come from an impoverished
area of northeast Nigeria and sadly little has
7
changedsincetheywerekidnapped.

Does the U.S. need to be

in Chad?
In recent news Islamic terrorist group,
BokoHaramhasmadeheadlinesallacrossthe
world. The group, has now sworn allegiance
to ISIS, and has committed a number of
1
atrocities.
The most notable being the
kidnapping of 276 female students in the
Borno State of Nigeria. Boko Haram is a
rough translation of Western education is
forbidden. More than 300 girls were
abducted on April 14, 2014 making this the
2,1
biggestcrimeBokoHaramhascommitted.

Chadsmilitary,theArmedForcesjoined
the struggle against Boko Haram after the
group seized a military base in Lake Chad.
The U.S, who has had relations with Chad in
the past, has now employed troops there. 3,4

This move by a powerful Western nation is

said to have been motivated by Boko Haram,
but we believe that theU.S.hasother motives
and no business inthisfight.Theprovidingof
weaponry and training should not begivenby
theU.S.totheChadianarmy.

TheUnitedStateshasbeeninvolvedin
our military since the9/11attacks.Afterthese
events the U.S. started a counterterrorism
initiative (Pan Sahel Initiative) that would
work as a preparation for and prevention of
terrorism. It expanded in 2005 (renamed
Trans Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership)
to include Nigeria as a military that would
become strengthened. Twelve years have
passed and the region is more chaotic than
before.5
"ItisallaboutAfricannationsfinding
African solutions to their problems," said
Major General James Linder, head of U.S.
Special Operations Command Africa. "We

cannot do that for them." 6

Still after more
than ten months the 276 female students
remain missing, but the U.S now has base
5
campfacilitiesinChad.

____________________________________

(
Boko Haram, a major African terrorist group)

____________________________________

AlthoughBokoHaramisahugethreatto
our liberty there is a bigger threat closer to
home. Last May a
ccording to a State
Department report, Chad's "security forces
shot and killed unarmed civiliansand arrested
and detained members of parliament, military
officers, former rebels, and others.(In the

Central African Republic). 5
More than 30
people were injured and 30 people were
7
killed.

Yet, the American government continues

to assist corrupt African governments
believing they are helping Africa. What
Chadians really need is education and
humanitarian aid. According to the World
Food Programme, Access to basic education
remains limited due to a lack ofinfrastructure

and persistent food insecurity 8

Thepeople
need their basic needs met, such as food and
education, so that they can fight against their
corrupt government. Once the Chad Armed
Forces are filled with respectable Chadians
thentheycanmoveusaunitednation.
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BokoHaram?"
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KidnapGirlsinNigeria?"
PBS
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2014.Web.18Mar.2015.
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HaramIslamists?"
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Jan.2015.Web.09Mar.2015.

4.) Flynn,Daniel,andBateFelix."NigeriaStalls
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Election."
Reuters
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hundredskilledchadforcesseizenortheastnig
eriantown29348531

WorkCited(OpEd):
1) "BokoHaramConflict:NigerianAlliesLaunch
Offensive."
BBCNews
.BBC,08Mar.2015.
Web.12Mar.2015.
2) Check,Africa."HowManySchoolgirlsDid
BokoHaramAbduct?"
AfricaCheck
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3) DepartmentofState,U.S."U.S.RelationsWith
Chad."
U.S.DepartmentofState
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DepartmentofState,21May2014.Web.11
Mar.2015.
4) Flynn,Daniel."U.S.MilitaryTrainsAfrican
ArmiesAheadofBokoHaramCampaign."
Reuters
.ThomsonReuters,25Feb.2015.Web.
12Mar.2015.
5) Turse,Nick."YouMightNotKnowWhere
ChadIs,buttheUSMilitaryHasBigPlansfor
It."
MotherJones
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Web.12Mar.2015.