Cameroon has promised to send nearly 2,500 soldiers to join the regional force fighting Boko Haram, the terrorist organization based in northeastern Nigeria.
Cameroon has promised to send nearly 2,500 soldiers to join the regional force fighting Boko Haram, the terrorist organization based in northeastern Nigeria.
Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Benin, and Niger agreed on a regional strategy and multinational task force for fighting Boko Haram at a meeting in February, during which Cameroon initially promised only 750 troops. The increase follows a summit meeting in June, President Paul Biya said in his statement, issued on Friday.
Boko Haram has expanded its region of violent attacks from Nigeria into neighboring countries, including suicide attacks in northern Cameroon, over the past year.
Chadian President Idriss Deby said earlier this week that the multinational task force, which will be based in his country’s capital, N’Djamena, will be deployed within days after delays due to funding issues.
Boko Haram has killed more than 15,000 people since 2009.