Successful African Multinational Force Needs Support, Source Says

Nigerian sources warned that U.S. drone raids against ISIS in Libya will make the situation worse, and increase the threat of jihadists fleeing Libya to join Boko Haram in the south. During his recent trip in Europe for the Syrian donors conference, Nigerian President Buhari made a stop at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, where he warned that Libya is a “time bomb.”

Under Nigerian leadership, the African multinational force has scored major victories in the last months against Boko Haram, which is now incapable of engaging the enemy on a battlefield but can still conduct harmful terrorist attacks on villages. However, one of the two main bases of Boko Haram has been encircled, while the other one, around Lake Chad, remains to be neutralized. In order to achieve this, money and equipment are needed. For instance, the terrorists have boats, most of which they seize from fishermen on Lake Chad. The multinational force has no navy (yet).

The multinational force has gotten no international support. Despite media propaganda, the U.S.A. and the EU have given little, if any support, to single countries, but this is not definitive. The source responded with mistrust to Financial Times reports that the U.S. Africa Command is recommending sending U.S. advisors to the front line of Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram.