The Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Maj Gen Ibrahim Sallau Ali, has advocated for community engagement in the fight against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin.
He revealed this during the opening ceremony of an international workshop on building community resilience against terrorism and violent extremism in the Lake Chad Basin on 16 October 2023.
Gen Ali highlighted that the workshop seeks to promote active engagement and participation by the victims at the very heart of the crisis – local communities. This noble objective extends beyond simple awareness. It aims to empower these communities with tools to understand the nature of the conflict and to play a significant role in countering terrorism.
He added that "with local awareness and engagement, we are not just presenting a united front against terrorism but also fostering a formidable fortress, resilient against any form of violent extremism".
In his remarks, the acting head of the African Union Mission Support Team, Abdou Mahamane, said the training became necessary in order to widen the audience's understanding of the challenges before us. He advised the participants to contribute meaningfully during the training in order to benefit maximally.
The 4day workshop was organised by the African Union Mission Support Team for MNJTF. It involves participants from various sectors of MNJTF among other stakeholders.
