By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, January 19 -- With Boko Haram reaching beyond Nigeria, Chad has sent its forces into Cameroon. Inner City Press on January 19 asked Chad's ambassador to the UN if his country wants a UN resolution and UN funding.
Yes, he said, unfortunately the Security Council has yet to ask but is expected to adopt a Presidential Statement later on January 19 (see below.)
A Presidential Statement, of course, doesn't provide any funding for soldiers.
Back on December 8, Inner City Press reported on the push by Chad, Cameroon and others to get a UN Security Council resolution. They hoped for it that month, but later other Council members told Inner City Press of resistance from members who wanted to see more details; theses sources complained of Security Council double standards.
Chad, which already expressed anger that the UN's "Sahel" office is not headquartered in one of the Sahel countries and at being taken for granted by, among others, its predecessor as Security Council president, still seems ready to push for a resolution - and funding.
The Presidential Statement read out past 6 pm on January 19 urged more planning, while praising Chad or at least the vote in Chad's National Assembly. The rush was before a January 20 meeting in Niger. What's that phrase? "Show me the money."
The Security Council's January 19 Presidential Statement, S/PRST/2015/4, "takes note of the decision of the Lake Chad Basin Commission Member States and Benin to operationalize the Multinational Joint Task Force, including through the establishment of a joint Headquarters and the deployment of national contingents, to conduct military operations against Boko Haram.”
It "welcomes the vote by the National Assembly of Chad on 16 January 2015 which authorized Chadian armed troops and security forces to assist Cameroonian and Nigerian soldiers in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists.”
And it “welcomes plans for a regional meeting in Niamey, Niger, on 20 January 2015 to discuss the regional response to the threat posed by Boko Haram. The Security Council urges the LCBC Member States and Benin to undertake further planning toward the sustainable, viable and effective operationalization of the Multinational Joint Task Force.”
Doesn't sustainable mean money? Watch this site.
