Abingdonboy
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2010
- Messages
- 29,597
- Reaction score
- 46
- Country
- Location
NEW DELHI: India has offered to share its experience in insurgency operations with African countries impacted with the scourge of IS-affiliated terror group Boko haram, with Cameroon foreign minister Lejeune Mbella Mbella making a specific request to Extenal Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj.
The Islamist terror group Boko Haram have been operating in the swamplands of Lake Chad. Earlier this year, the terror organisation, which was previously aligned to Al-Qaeda, gave its allegiance to the Islamic State (IS).
It was founded in 2002 in Nigeria, but re-surged in 2011 and captured vast areas in Nigeria. Boko Haram is estimated to have killed 10,000 in 2014 itself and displaced over 2 million people. Last year, Boko Haram carried out mass abduction of over 270 schoolgirls.
During their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of India-Africa Forum Summit, Cameroon forign minister Mbella gave a detailed picture on how militancy had affected not just Nigeria, but also Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Benin
Mbella then asked for Indian help in capacity building to strengthen Cameroon’s defence forces, especially in context of Boko Haram.
“They wanted india to help them in capacity building in defence sector, so that the combined forces which are right now combating boko haram can be strengthened. We have agreed to look at positively at this respect,” ministry of external affairs joint secretary (West Africa) Sanjeev Kohli told reporters.
The five African countries have pooled in their resources to create a specialized task force, which has been able to score some successes against Boko Haram.
Kohli said that India will call for a meeting between experts to gauge the needs of the Cameroonian defence forces. He indicated that it could be in the shape of specialized training programs and information exchange, but further rounds of discussions would be required to firm up the nature of Indian assistance.
The senior Indian diplomat noted that India already has a training program with Nigeria, which is also fighting Boko Haram. “So, we have a fairly good idea of what they (Cameroon) needs,” Kohli said.
He even went further and said that India was very much willing to extend its Nigerian training program to other countries in the neighbourhood.
“India is willing to extend its training program with Nigeria with other countries who are in the zone affected by Boko Haram,” said Kohli.
India has already conducted two specialized programs for Nigeria in counter-insurgency to strengthen their fight against Boko Haram. Nigeria, in fact, has now requested Indian military trainers to be sent for in-situ training so that more soldiers could be taught at same time.
US, UK, France and China have also given military assistance to the countries in the regional coalition fighting Boko Haram.
India Offers Assistance in Fighting Boko Haram -The New Indian Express
The Islamist terror group Boko Haram have been operating in the swamplands of Lake Chad. Earlier this year, the terror organisation, which was previously aligned to Al-Qaeda, gave its allegiance to the Islamic State (IS).
It was founded in 2002 in Nigeria, but re-surged in 2011 and captured vast areas in Nigeria. Boko Haram is estimated to have killed 10,000 in 2014 itself and displaced over 2 million people. Last year, Boko Haram carried out mass abduction of over 270 schoolgirls.
During their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of India-Africa Forum Summit, Cameroon forign minister Mbella gave a detailed picture on how militancy had affected not just Nigeria, but also Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Benin
Mbella then asked for Indian help in capacity building to strengthen Cameroon’s defence forces, especially in context of Boko Haram.
“They wanted india to help them in capacity building in defence sector, so that the combined forces which are right now combating boko haram can be strengthened. We have agreed to look at positively at this respect,” ministry of external affairs joint secretary (West Africa) Sanjeev Kohli told reporters.
The five African countries have pooled in their resources to create a specialized task force, which has been able to score some successes against Boko Haram.
Kohli said that India will call for a meeting between experts to gauge the needs of the Cameroonian defence forces. He indicated that it could be in the shape of specialized training programs and information exchange, but further rounds of discussions would be required to firm up the nature of Indian assistance.
The senior Indian diplomat noted that India already has a training program with Nigeria, which is also fighting Boko Haram. “So, we have a fairly good idea of what they (Cameroon) needs,” Kohli said.
He even went further and said that India was very much willing to extend its Nigerian training program to other countries in the neighbourhood.
“India is willing to extend its training program with Nigeria with other countries who are in the zone affected by Boko Haram,” said Kohli.
India has already conducted two specialized programs for Nigeria in counter-insurgency to strengthen their fight against Boko Haram. Nigeria, in fact, has now requested Indian military trainers to be sent for in-situ training so that more soldiers could be taught at same time.
US, UK, France and China have also given military assistance to the countries in the regional coalition fighting Boko Haram.
India Offers Assistance in Fighting Boko Haram -The New Indian Express
