Today´s
summit on Boko Haram, convened at the Elysée Palace by President
François Hollande, should be seen as a constructive initiative.
The concrete
results in terms of fighting the Nigerian terrorist group might be very tiny.
But it had some other advantages.
It kept the pressure on the President of
Nigeria. President Goodluck Jonathan must take the issue with a greater
degree of seriousness.
It also showed that the countries in the region –
particularly Cameroon and Chad – must be fully engaged and cooperate among
themselves. This is lacking. Especially as it concerns Cameroon. North Cameroon
– an area I know relatively well – is a forgotten region, when seen from the
capital Yaoundé. This has to change. The Cameroonians have to increase their
police and armed forces presence in the North. They have also to be prepared to
cooperate with Nigeria and Chad.
The summit has also emphasized that the
problem requires international cooperation if it is to be tackled without
further delay. France can certainly play a role on the French-speaking side of
the region. The UK has to be more involved on the Nigerian side. And French and
British intelligence services have to work hand in hand on the ground and be
willing to treat the African counterparts as equals.
All
this is a bit of an ambition. Not easy to achieve. But it has to be said. And
the pressure has to go on.
We
will see what progress will be reported as accomplished when the ministers meet for a
follow-up conference next month in the UK.
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