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Nigeria committed to the African intervention force in Mali until crisis resolved
(Reuters) – Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has indicated that his country’s troops would stay in Mali to back military operations against al Qaeda-linked militants until the crisis was resolved.
Nigeria is in the process of deploying 1,200 troops as part of a West African intervention force to support the effort in removing the militants in the north of Mali.
“We cannot pull out until we have solved the problem. I cannot tell you when we will solve the problem, but Nigeria is totally committed and we remain committed until the crisis is resolved,” Jonathan told Reuters in an interview in Geneva.
“Until democratically elected people take over the government of Mali, we will not pull back.”
As well as deploying troops, Nigeria also has warplanes in neighboring Niger ready for missions in Mali.
The hostage crisis at an Algerian gas plant has raised fears among other West African countries of a backlash from al Qaeda allied elements at home.
Jonathan said Nigeria had a direct interest in intervening in Mali, pointing out links between the Nigerian Islamist sect Boko Haram and al Qaeda’s north African wing in Mali. We believe that if we stabilize northern Mali, not just Nigeria but other countries that are facing threats will be stabilized,” he said.
“Nigeria controls 55 percent of the economy of West Africa and Mali is a West African country so we expect the Nigerian contribution to take that proportion. If we don’t show that leadership other countries may not come up strong.”
Chad became the latest country to join the effort on Tuesday, sending an armored column of troops to Nigeria, to deploy along the Malian border.