Chad’s President, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, has indicated the potential withdrawal of Chadian forces from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) following a recent Boko Haram assault that left casualties among Chadian soldiers.
After the October 27 attack on a Chadian army position in Barkaram, President Deby immediately took charge of military operations along the Lake Chad border.
A statement from Hassan Abdelkerim Bouyëbri, Chad’s Director General of Communication, revealed that the President is assessing the impact of the incident and expressed concern over the coalition’s diminishing unity, stating, “The MNJTF’s lack of coordinated action against Boko Haram shows the coalition’s waning commitment to this shared struggle.”
Since arriving at the frontline on October 28, President Deby has overseen the burial of fallen soldiers, ensured medical care for the injured, and established a local command post to guide counter-insurgency efforts.
He also announced Operation Haskanite to root out remaining Boko Haram fighters, bolstered Chad’s border defenses, and outlined strategies to confront asymmetric warfare tactics by the militants.
President Deby reiterated his dedication to protecting Chad’s citizens and addressing security threats but indicated that Chad might reconsider its involvement with the MNJTF if collective action within the task force does not improve.
Established in 1994, the MNJTF brings together troops from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria, originally to address cross-border crime but expanded in 2012 to combat terrorism across the Lake Chad Basin.