Egypt Pledges To Support MNJTF Against Insurgency In Lake Chad

The Egyptian Government has pledged to support the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to achieve its mandate in the Lake Chad region

A statement by the Acting Chief Military Public Information Officer, MNJTF, Lt-Col. Iweha Ikedichi, said the Ambassador of the Republic of Egypt to the Republic of Chad, Tarek Youssef, in company of the Defense Attache of the Republic of Egypt to Chad and Sudan, Staff Colonel Ahmed Gamal El-Barbary, made the pledge during a visit to Headquarters MNJTF in Ndjamena, Chad.

Ambassador Yousesef described the MNJTF as a model, deserving to be supported and replicated elsewhere.

He further commended the efforts of the Force in tackling the challenges of terrorism across the contiguous nations within Lake Chad Basin region.

He sought clarifications regarding operational command of troops contributed by member-countries.

Also speaking, the Defense Attache of the Republic of Egypt to Chad and Sudan, Staff Colonel Ahmed Gamal El-Barbary added that he was keen to facilitate assistance in training, equipment support and operational cooperation with the MNJTF.

He recounted the warm relationship he has had with nationals of Lake Chad Basin Commission and pledged his country’s readiness to provide support and assistance to the Force.

Responding, the Force Commander (FC), MNJTF, Major General Saidu Tanko Audu, thanked the Egyptian Ambassador and Defense Attache for their visit.

He described the visit as double headed and commended the interest they showed to providing support to the MNJTF to achieve its mandate.

He highlighted the achievement of the MNJTF to include the decimation of the Boko Haram terrorists and the facilitation of the safe return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees back to their ancestral communities.

Major General Audu recounted the formative years of the MNJTF leading to its adoption by the African Union (AU) as a model force dedicated to countering security challenges common to member-states of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.

He also recollected the experience of the Republic of Egypt in tackling security challenges in the Sahel. He stated that the MNJTF would leverage from the experience of Egypt and called for support, especially in intelligence sharing, counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and unmanned arial vehicles jammers, amongst others.