The President of Chad, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, has flayed the operation of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and announced the withdrawal of his men due to perceived shortcomings in coordination and effectiveness in combating terrorism in the Lake Chad region.
The president, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Chad, has stationed himself to lead an operation at the Lake Chad frontline following the attack that claimed the lives of 40 soldiers and wounded dozens in the deadly attack.
Mahanat has been leading operations against Boko Haram terrorists following a deadly attack on a military position last week in Barkaram in the Lake Chad region.
According to the report, days after visiting the site of the attack, overseeing the burial of his fallen soldiers, and ensuring proper care for the wounded soldiers, he established a local command centre to manage the counter-terrorism operation directly.
A statement issued yesterday by President Hassan Abdelkerim Bouyebri’s spokesman, obtained by LEADERSHIP on Monday in Maiduguri, underlined the objectives of the president’s frontline presence.
“They are launching Operation Haskanite, a military operation to track down and eliminate the remnants of Boko Haram in their hideouts, avenge the fallen soldiers, and neutralise the threat posed by the terrorist group.
“Others are reorganising and strengthening the capabilities of the Chadian Armed Forces, particularly in intelligence, logistics, mobility, and communication, to effectively counter the evolving tactics of Boko Haram and secure the country’s borders.
“Consider the withdrawal of Chad from the Multinational Joint Force, taking into account the absence of the pulling of efforts, observed, as always, unfortunately, on the ground, in the face of this common enemy.
“This force created to pull efforts and intelligence seems to fall into lethargy,” the statement said.
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