Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, Chairman of the Transitional Military Council, President and Head of State, Republic of Chad has said that greater support by the international community was needed to ward off the activities of Boko Haram terrorists operating around his country and Nigeria, among other nations.
Itno, who spoke Thursday at the ongoing 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, said that the combined multinational military formation from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria (Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) are gaining huge advantage against the terror groups but the victory was not yet total.
He called for an improved military and intel assistance to state actors in the respective countries in light of the ongoing onslaught against Boko Haram.
“The sacrifices made by the G-5 Sahel Force and the Multinational Joint Force against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin are enormous, but the peril persists and continues to wreak havoc, plunging innocent civilian populations into desolation. and despair.
“From this perspective, our countries affected by this scourge of terrorism, considered a threat to peace and security, are entitled to count on the solidarity of the international community, in a spirit of complementarity. We are condemned to act together in the face of global challenges.
“In the same vein, while welcoming the efforts made by the various forces intervening in the Sahel, Chad underlines the imperative need for greater multifaceted support both to the aforementioned joint forces and to their individual member states,” he said.
Itno further explained that since the terror group began its devastating operation in the affected countries, the areas where they have unleashed wanton destruction is begging for massive financial assistance geared towards its rebuilding.
“Likewise, the response to the terrorist threat should integrate dimensions related to economic development, climate change, youth education, and access to basic social services by our populations,” he said.
He also suggested to his counterparts that there was need to “review our response approaches and pool our efforts for responses more suited to the changing context and challenges on the ground.”
The Chadian leader also used the opportunity to plead for the UN Security Council’s intervention.
“To this end, Chad reiterates, once again, the appeal repeatedly launched by the Conference of Heads of State of the G5 Sahel to the international community, in particular to the UN Security Council, relating to the granting of to the G5 Sahel Joint Force a mandate under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter in order to ensure sustainable and predictable funding,” he said.
