Niger quits Lake Chad anti-terrorism force

Niger withdrew from a joint military force formed by countries bordering Lake Chad to fight terrorist groups.

The move aims to free-up forces to reinforce oil installations at home, which has been targets of terrorist attacks.

The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) was established in 1994 and has been reactivated in 2015 to counter Boko Haram and other security threats in the Lake Chad Basin region.

The group includes soldiers from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. It operates under the mandate to create a safe and secure environment, reduce violence against civilians, and facilitate humanitarian operations.