The Economic Community of Central African States ECCAS has pledged to work together with the Economic Community of West AFRICAN States ECOWAS and Nigeria to put in place a security architecture aimed at eradicating the Boko Haram insurgency
President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday met with two emissaries from ECCAS, President Denis Sassou N’Guesso of the Republic of Congo and President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of the Republic of Equitorial Guinea at the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja
The visit followed the decision taken by the Heads of State and government of ECCAS during their summit in Yaunde, Cameroon, on the 16th February 2015 in which the community pledged 186 Million Dollars to efforts to eradicate BOKO Haram and also resolved to send forces to wipe out the terrorists
The three Presidents underscored the imperative of a multi-prolonged approach to fighting the terrorist group and in particular, commended the initiative of the member states of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) for a multi national joint task force (MNJTF) to combat the Boko Haram insurgents.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after the meeting President N’Guesso said ECCAS had resolved to work with ECOWAS to collectively utilize all political, military and diplomatic actions on all fronts to degrade and eradicate Boko Haram.
The three Presidents he said welcomed the proposal to have a joint Summit of the ECOWAS and ECCAS to further mobilise international support for the MNJTF which they stressed was wholly owned and driven by the member states of the LaKe Chad Basin Commission LCBC
He said they had urged the international community especially the African Union, the United Nations and other partners to render necessary material and financial support to the LCBC and the Benin Republic to enable the earliest deployment of the MNJTF.
The visiting Presidents have since left for Accra where they will meet with President John Mahama of Ghana, who is the Chairman of ECOWAS.
