Chadian President says the multinational force fighting Boko Haram is in a slump as his Nigerian counterpart appoints new army chief
Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno has threatened to withdraw his country from a multinational security force over an alleged lack of coordinated efforts among the member states’ troops to combat militant groups in the Lake Chad region.
Mahamat Deby made the remarks on Sunday while visiting an area where at least 40 of the Central African state’s soldiers were killed in an attack by suspected Boko Haram terrorists late last month. The assault is said to have been one of the deadliest on Chadian forces since 2020, when approximately 100 soldiers were killed in a raid, prompting then-President Idriss Deby to launch an operation against the Islamist militants.
Following the latest assault, the Chadian leader announced the launch of “Operation Haskanite,” a military operation with new troops deployed to the region to track down and neutralize the members of the terror group. President Mahamat Deby has led the offensive since October 28, a day after the terrorist attack, according to a statement from his office.
The Lake Chad basin borders Chad, Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon, with each country, as well as Benin, contributing troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which was formed in response to cross-border raids by the Boko Haram movement. However, funding problems, as well as other commitment issues, have hampered the force’s effectiveness in fighting the insurgency, which the UN estimates has killed 40,000 people in Nigeria alone.
On Sunday, Chad’s leader, whose father died on the front lines fighting rebels in 2021, said N’Djamena is considering withdrawing from the MNJF because the mission, which was established “with the aim of pooling efforts and intelligence, seems to be in a slump.” He expressed concern at “the lack of joint efforts against the common enemy, which is unfortunately always observed on the ground.”
Chadian lecturer Remadji Hoinathy, a researcher on strategic development in Central Africa and the Lake Chad Basin Commission, told state TV that the former French colony’s leader is dissatisfied because he is not receiving immediate assistance from Benin, Cameroon, Benin, Niger, and Nigeria in quelling the terrorists.
On Tuesday Nigeria President Bola Tinubu confirmed the substantive promotion of the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS) to Lieutenant-General., effectively making Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede the new chief. His predecessor Lt.General Taoreed Lagbaja has not been seen in public since September 10 with rumours rife he had died from stage three cancer in an undisclosed hospital in Europe.
The new COAS saluting his commander in chief Bola Tinubu
The Nigerian Presidency had said in a October 30 statement. “Oluyede will act in the position pending the return of the indisposed substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.”
He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992, effective from 1987. He rose to Major-General in
September 2020. Oluyede also received the coveted Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.
The 56-year-old Oluyede and Lagbaja were coursemates and members of the 39th Regular Course.
Oluyede has held many commands since his commissioning as an officer. He was Platoon Commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion, Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer Guards Brigade, Commandant Amphibious Training School.
General Oluyede participated in several operations, including the Economic Community of West African
States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAl in the North East theatre of operations, where he commanded 27 Task Force
Brigade.
Until his appointment, Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the
Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna.
Oluyede has earned many honours for his meritorious service in various fields of operations. These include the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, Passing the Staff Course, and Membership in the National Institute.
Source X/RT/Nigerian Presidency