MNJTF denies knowledge of pull out of Chadian forces

The Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), a regional military force fighting the Boko Haram, have denied knowledge of the reported pull out of Chadian forces.

According to the MNJTF, the forces of the four countries making the regional force are still on ground.

The regional military force was reacting to reports that the Chadian Government has ordered the withdrawal of its troops from the MNJTF, vowing that no Chadian soldier will fight out of Chad again.

Responding to enquiries on the development, the MNJTF Chief of Public Information, Col Timothy Antigha, said: “We in the MNJTF are not aware of that information. As I speak to you now, we are not aware of that. I am in Chad and in Ndjamena. So if I’m in the country, that means that the subsisting cooperation is ongoing.

“I don’t know the source of that information. We are not privy to any such information.”

The Chadian President, President Idriss Deby, had reportedly hinted at this withdrawal of his country’s troops on Thursday when he was quoted to have said on national television that Chadian troops would no longer participate in military operations outside the country’s borders against armed groups active in the Lake Chad region and the Sahel.

“Our troops have died for Lake Chad and the Sahel. From today, no Chadian soldiers will take part in a military mission outside Chad.

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“Chad is alone in shouldering all the burden of the war against Boko Haram,” Deby said.

In a similar vein, the Chad Amy spokesman, Colonel Azem Agouna, made reference to a possible withdrawal, adding that 52 troops died during the country’s full scale operation against the Boko Haram, which began since March 31.

Agouna said: “A thousand terrorists have been killed and 50 motorised canoes have been destroyed.”

He further noted that the operation, which was launched after nearly 100 soldiers were killed in a Boko Haram attack last month, ended on Wednesday after the armed fighters were forced out of the country.

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