Prez Mahama hints of multi-national force to fight Boko Haram

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) wants the creation of a regional or multi-national force to deal with the Boko Haram menace in Nigeria.

Consequently, ECOWAS would formally table a suggestion before the African Union ( AU) at its 24th Session in Ethiopia next week for consideration.

ECOWAS Chairman, President John Dramani Mahama, who disclosed this at a news conference in Accra yesterday on the sidelines of the high-level coordination meeting of ECOWAS and its partners on Ebola, said "it appears the attack was getting more intense with 10,000 lives lost already and the time has come for us to deal with it decisively."

Capacity to fight back

Mr Mahama said Africa must not stand by idly waiting for the international community to intervene on its behalf when it had the ability to fight back against the calamities perpetrated by Boko Haram.

In doing that, however, there was the need for a more wider military force.

Already, the armed forces of Nigeria and Cameroon have been employing the military option but they appear overwhelmed by the tactics and firepower of the terrorist group.

"I think we are increasingly coming to a point where a regional or multi-national force is being seriously considered.

"But if that will happen, there must be a mandate given by the AU to allow such a force to operate.

"These are extraordinary times that call for measures that are equally extraordinary," the ECOWAS Chair said.

Enough of statements

He added that immediately ECOWAS received the report about the most recent attack by Boko Haram, it issued a statement to condemn the attack and reaffirmed its solidarity with Nigeria.

Answering a question about whether Boko Haram did not pose a threat to this year's Nigerian presidential election, President Mahama said everything was being done to ensure that the election passed successfully.

"The elections must go forward. Nigeria cannot delay those elections because of Boko Haram. It must have given Boko Haram the victory they did not deserve," he said.

He said ECOWAS, AU and the UN were in touch with the Nigerian authorities to ensure the elections went on peacefully.

Meanwhile, President Mahama is expected to discuss the terrorism agenda and the Ebola epidemic in West Africa with German President, Angela Merkel, during his state visit to Germany next week.