Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Deby has warned that his country may withdraw from the regional security coalition, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), due to frustrations with its lack of effectiveness in countering insurgent threats in the Lake Chad region.
Deby expressed these concerns during a visit to the area on Sunday, following an attack in late October that killed around 40 Chadian soldiers, reportedly by Boko Haram militants.
He criticized the MNJTF’s poor coordination and lack of joint efforts against insurgents, claiming the force has not lived up to its intended purpose of enhancing operations and intelligence-sharing.
The Lake Chad basin region, which borders Chad, Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon, has been a hotspot for militant activity, particularly from Boko Haram, since 2009. The MNJTF was created to combat insurgent activity across these borders, but Deby’s frustration highlights ongoing challenges in unifying the force.
Chad’s potential withdrawal would deal a significant blow to the MNJTF, which has already faced difficulty in coordinating a unified response. At this time, Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon have not commented on Deby’s statement.