New York
Al Jazeera
F.Johns
23 April 2017 – The United Nations Security Council on the final day of talks have unanimously expressed their commitment to providing long-term support for the Governments of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger and the people in their fight against Boko Haram.
Affecting some 17 million people, the crisis in Africa’s Lake Chad Basin is of global concern, already claiming the lives of more than 35,000 people.
The 15 members of the Council are in agreeance that broad, concerted action to confront violent extremism and bring development solutions to the region affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.
The Council, however, has been deeply divided over how best to respond to Boko Haram’s bloody campaign and its underlying socio-economic drivers.
In line with the Hausa translation of Boko Haram, meaning “Western Education is forbidden”, the ambassador of Kazakhstan has highlighted the need to rebuild the social fabric of the area so a generation of children don’t miss out on education.
With 50,000 children in the area currently not in classrooms, the insurgents have destroyed 1,000 schools and uprooted nearly 20,000 teachers, according to Borno’s education ministry.
The Russian Federation is, however, dubious of Western intervention.
Through defence cooperation agreements, Russia has taken the lead in have providing sophisticated military equipment and training for security forces.
The Herald MUN 