West African leaders meet to tackle Boko Haram's upsurge



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Leaders from three West African countries will meet Thursday in Chad to discuss how to combat the recent increase in activity of jihadist Boko Haram fighters in the region, announced to AFP the Chadian presidency.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerian Mahamadou Issoufou will meet behind closed doors with their Chadian counterpart Idriss Deby for a "mini summit" after which a statement will be issued.

The armies of the three countries, as well as those of Cameroon, are operating in the Lake Chad region within the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to fight Boko Haram, a state affiliated with the Islamic State. .

More than 27,000 people have died since the start of the Boko Haram insurgency, which began in northeastern Nigeria in 2009. About 1.8 million people are still homeless after fleeing violence.

"The increase in activities of Boko Haram elements in Nigeria and Niger in recent days is worrying heads of state who must decide on a rigorous action plan," said one source. Chadian diplomacy.

Since July, there have been at least 17 attacks against military bases. almost all in the region around Lake Chad, according to an AFP count.

Last week, activists raided a base in the Nigerian village of Metele, near the Nigerian border, killing at least 44 people, although the surviving soldiers have more than 100 dead.

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