MNJTF Force Commander Visits Chad Amid Niger Coup

MNJTF Force Commander Visits Chad Amid Niger Coup

The Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Major General Ibrahim Sallau Ali, has made his first official visit to Sector 2 Bagasola, Chad.

The visit took place on August 2, 2023, as part of his familiarisation tour of the MNJTF sectors, and is coming at a time the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was preparing to launch a possible military intervention in response to last week’s coup in Niger.

(Read Also: ECOWAS Imposes Sanctions on Niger: A Call for Order Amidst Unrest)

The MNJTF is a regional military coalition comprising troops from Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Cameroon, and Benin. The MNJTF was established in 1998 to combat cross-border crimes and insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin. In 2015, the MNJTF was reactivated to counter the threat of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the region.

Force Commander commends troops for their achievements

During his visit to Sector 2, Major General Ali praised the troops for their successes in stabilizing the Lake Chad region. He said that the MNJTF had made significant progress in degrading the terrorists’ capabilities and restoring normalcy to the affected areas. He also said that the MNJTF would not rest until it clears the remnants of terrorists from the Lake Chad Islands known as “Tumbums”. He urged the sector not to relent until that objective is achieved.

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Major General Ali also expressed his appreciation to the Chadian government and people for their support and cooperation with the MNJTF. He said that Chad had played a vital role in the regional security and stability. He assured them that the MNJTF would continue to work with them to address the common challenges facing the Lake Chad Basin.

Sector Commander assures Force Commander of total cooperation

In his remark, the Commander of Sector 2, Major General Mahamat Yousouf Itno, assured the Force Commander of his total cooperation in the ongoing operations. He said that he was committed to working closely with other troops contributing countries to achieve lasting peace and security in the region. He also thanked the Force Commander for his visit and guidance.

The Force Commander’s visit to Sector 2 served as an opportunity to assess the progress made by the troops in combating terrorism and strategizing for way forward.

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Major General Ali encouraged the troops to remain resolute in their efforts and emphasized the importance of unity among the multinational forces in achieving their common goal. He also presented some souvenirs and awards to some outstanding officers and soldiers of Sector 2.