Chad‘s interim President, Mahamat Idriss Deby, has threatened to withdraw the Central African country from a multinational security force, which he claimed has failed in its mission to combat insurgent groups in the Lake Chad region.
Deby made this statement on Sunday during a visit to the region, which encompasses parts of western Chad as well as Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon. Around 40 Chadian soldiers were killed there in late October during an attack by suspected Boko Haram militants.
Announcing the launch of an operation against the attackers, Deby indicated he was considering a withdrawal from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which consists of troops from the countries bordering Lake Chad.
The joint force has faced challenges due to internal divisions and a lack of cooperation, but Chad’s potential withdrawal would mark a significant setback, as its armed forces are among the most respected in the region.
Deby pointed to “the lack of joint efforts against the common enemy, which is unfortunately always observed on the ground. This force – created with the aim of pooling efforts and intelligence – seems to be faltering.”
The Lake Chad region has been repeatedly targeted by insurgent attacks, including those from Islamic State militants in West Africa and Boko Haram, which originated in northeast Nigeria in 2009 and has since spread to western Chad.
