Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 1207th meeting, held on 8 April 2024, on the Briefing on the Situation in the Lake Chad Basin, the Operations of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and Implementation of the Regional Stabilisation Strategy, Recovery and Resilience (RS-SRR).

The Peace and Security Council,

Recalling its previous decisions on the Situation in the Lake Chad Basin, the operations of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and on the Implementation of the Regional Stabilisation Strategy, Recovery and Resilience, in particular, Communiqué [PSC/PR/COMM.1197 (2024)] adopted at its 1197th meeting held on 30 January 2024;

Taking note of the opening remarks by H.E. Ambassador Jainaba Jagne, Permanent Representative of the Republic of The Gambia to the African Union (AU) as Stand-in Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council for the month of April 2024; the introductory statement by H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; as well as the briefings by H.E. Mamman Nuhu, the Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Head of the MNJTF and by Major General Ibrahim Sallau Ali, the MNJTF Force Commander;

Reaffirming the unwavering commitment and support of the AU to the people and governments of the countries of the Lake Chad Basin area to effectively combat terrorism and violent extremism and to restore lasting peace, stability and socio-economic development in the region; and

Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council,

1. Welcomes the progress achieved thus far, by the MNJTF, in combating the Boko Haram terrorist group as well as in the implementation of the Regional Stabilisation Strategy, Recovery and Resilience;

2. Commends the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the MNJTF Troop/Police Contributing Countries(T/PCCs) for their continued commitment to defeat Boko Haram, stabilize the region and restore lasting peace, security, stability and prosperity in the Lake Chad Basin region;

3. Also commends the AU Commission and the AU partners, in particular the European Union (EU), for the continued support of the activities of the MNJTF and the LCBC;

4. Urges the LCBC countries and the LCBC Commission to operationalize the police and civilian components as contained in the MNJTF Strategic Concept of Operation (CONOPs), in order to more effectively secure the areas liberated from the Boko Haram terrorist group, as well as to redouble efforts to holistically address the structural root causes and factors that fuel terrorism and violent extremism in the region;

5. Welcomes the commencement of the second phase of the Regional Strategy for the Stabilization, Recovery and Resilience (RS-SRR) of the Boko Haram-affected areas of the Lake Chad Basin which will provide a unique opportunity for the stakeholders of the Strategy to take stock of progress and to expedite its implementation; and in this regard, requests the AU Commission to continue to enhance its support for the LCBC, including coordination of Commission-wide efforts for the stabilization and mobilization of additional support to the MNJTF;

6. Also welcomes the signing of a Letter of Agreement (LOA) between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and LCBC, stipulating the modalities for continued financial support to the LCBC for enhanced coordination in the implementation of the RSS;

7. Underscores the need for designing and implementing initiatives that meaningfully empower women and youth, support their participation in all regional stabilization processes, early recovery and development, and establish mechanisms for improved gender-sensitive monitoring, reporting, analysis and advocacy;

8. Calls on the LCBC countries to develop national action plans for UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2250 and 2419; also calls for Territorial Action Plans to operationalize these two UNSCR Resolutions, in order to ensure that the implementation of the Strategy effectively addresses the structural root causes of youth poverty and radicalization, with a view to providing an inclusive platform for youth to meaningfully engage in the stabilization process;

9. Pay tributes to MNJTF personnel who have paid the supreme sacrifice in the fight against terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin, and wishes a speedy recovery to all those nursing injuries from the attacks by the Boko Haram terrorist group;

10. Expresses deep concern over the dire humanitarian crisis in the Lake Chad Basin region and, in his respect, underscores the need to redouble efforts in mobilizing the required humanitarian support towards effectively assisting the affected population, as well as repatriating refugees and resettling all returnees back in their original communities;

11. Requests the AU Commission to continue providing technical, logistical and financial support to the MNJTF in fighting terrorism, through its mechanisms on Peace and Security;

12. Decides to undertake a solidarity field visit to the Lake Chad Basin region during the first half of 2024; and

13. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

COMMENTS