The European Union has announced the disbursement of 32.7 billion FCFA to strengthen the Multinational Force established to combat the Nigerian Islamic sect, Boko Haram. In a Joint Communiqué signed by Federica Mogherini, the Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,  Neven Mimica (European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development) and Smail Chergui (Commissioner of the African Union Peace and Security), the trio stated that the funds will strengthen the regional response coordination

The EU also congratulated the countries of the region for the progress made in recent months to ensure a coordinated regional response via the Multinational Force. Boko Haram attacks against the population have seriously affected the northeast of Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger. More than 13 000 people have been killed, 2.5 million people internally displaced, and an estimated 250,000 have fled to neighboring countries. The escalating violence has disrupted the regional agricultural production and sealed the functioning of local markets, causing increased malnutrition.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai (Cameroon Intelligence Report)