African Nations Continue to Fight Boko Haram With Little Help From US

According to a Chadian army spokesman, 117 Boko Haram fighters were killed in an operation along Lake Chad, a region where Boko Haram has carried out a series of terror attacks and sieges. Lake Chad has been an extremely important strategic region for Boko Haram, as it lies along the borders of Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon and Niger. Earlier this month, Chadian officials banned travel through the lake in an attempt to hinder Boko Haram’s utilization of the transnational waterway. Since the ban, 1,000 Chadian soldiers have been stationed around the lake to secure islands and fend of jihadist militants.

In June, the Chadian government decided to ban the burqa, a common after Boko Haram operatives used burqas to conceal weapons and suicide vests during attacks. This week, Chad’s government continued to enhance their counterterrorism laws by banning street begging after two young girls posing as beggars were used as human bombs in Cameroon. The government in N’Djamena also passed legislation allowing for the death penalty in cases of terrorism, a law that had been done away with just six months prior.

Strides are also being made against Boko Haram in other regions of Africa as a coalition of 4 countries continues their campaign against Boko Haram. On Wednesday and Thursday 71 kidnapped girls and women were rescued by the Nigerian military. One of the girls that was rescued said she was “waiting for death” since the militants often threatened their victims and have forced many of them to be suicide bombers. The rescue operation can be viewed as a step in the right direction as it is the first major success for the Nigerian military since Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari fired all military leaders on July 14. On Thursday, Nigeria’s Defense Ministry appointed a new general to lead the coalition in the fight against Boko Haram.

Buhari has been travelling throughout the region recently trying to enhance cooperation in the Boko Haram fight. Last week, the Nigerian President visited the US to meet with President Obama and discuss the US’s involvement in the fight against Islamic State’s West African affiliate.

According to Foreign Policy, the US has agreed to expand its military assistance to Nigeria however the Obama Administration continues to deny the African nation surveillance and intelligence support.

President Obama has announced to the country in multiple prime-time addresses that he was dedicated to degrade and ultimately destroy Islamic State, with a major component of his strategy being airstrikes against IS militants, “wherever they are.”

However, the Administration has continually put Africa on the back burner, focusing on Islamic State’s holdings in Syria and Iraq despite the State Department admitting Boko Haram is the deadliest organization in the world.

It remains to be seen whether the African coalition will be able to destroy Boko Haram absent an increase in U.S. assistance. Sooner or later, President Obama must realize that to defeat Islamic State, the U.S must counter its forces everywhere, including Africa.