By Olanrewaju Ajao Central African leaders, under the aegis of the Economic Community of Central African Countries (ECCAC) have announced to join hands with Nigeria and other allies in the battle against the Boko Haram sect.
President Denis Sassou N’Guesso of the Republic of Congo and his Republic of Equatorial Guinea counterpart, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo made this known today when they met with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Nanamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.
Briefing State House Correspondents after the meeting, President of the Republic of Congo said leaders of the sub regional group were also concerned about the Ebola disease in parts of Africa.
He said: “As we know, Africa is confronting two challenges. Significantly, Ebola is affecting basically countries in West Africa. These countries are: Liberia, Guinea and Serra Leone. Also, the operations of the terrorists generally affecting countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa and in northern Africa, particularly Boko Haram which has been affecting Nigeria, Chad and Cameroun.
“Like you know, at the last meeting of the Africa Union, the Heads of State took some very important decisions principally to check the Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria, Niger, Cameroun and Chad. Following the meeting of the African Union, the Economic Community of Central African Countries had a meeting recently in Yaoundé to address particularly the Boko Haram challenge in Africa and to see the possibility of ameliorating the grave situation. It’s on that platform that we met with our friend President Jonathan of Nigeria.”
He continued “We are here because we have been mandated by the Heads of State of the Central African Community to bring here, and show our solidarity to the people of Nigeria and the government of Nigeria, and to our brother and friend, President Jonathan.”
N’Guesso hinted that they would head to Accra, Ghana, to meet with President John Mahama, who is the Chairman of ECOWAS.
“We will study the situation together and put in place security architecture to see how we can coordinate all our actions to put out and eradicate the Boko Haram, which has been spreading in a very grave manner. We look forward to peace, security and development in Africa,” he disclosed.
He expressed hope that they would collectively utilize all political, military and diplomatic actions and mobilize all efforts in all fronts to degrade and eradicate Boko Haram.
While congratulating Jonathan for the success recorded by the military in the fight against the insurgents, N’Guesso added that “We have no doubt that we have arrived at a mechanism for coordinating all our actions for effectiveness,” he said.
