Is the Ukraine war preventing the fight against terror in Africa?
Weapons end up in the Chad Basin
Created: 01.12.2022, 16:50
By: Fabian Mueller
According to experts, the Ukraine war is affecting the military fight against terror in Africa.
(Iconic image) © Sgt. Kacie Benak/US Army via IMAGO
Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari warns of an increasing risk of terrorist attacks.
Because of the war in Ukraine, weapons and fighters have flowed into the region.
Abuja - The fact that the Ukraine war is diverting the world's focus from other problems is leading to a renewed threat of terror in Africa.
That is what Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari fears.
At the summit of heads of state of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, Buhari expressed concerns that the war is pouring arms and fighters into the Lake Chad region and strengthening terrorist groups there.
The Islamist group Boko Haram is active in the region.
According to a report by Voice of America, the US's official foreign broadcaster, the Nigerian President called on the six member states of the Commission (
Niger, Nigeria, Libya, Chad, Central African Republic and Cameroon, editor's note
) to be more vigilant and cooperate against the increasing proliferation of arms in the region.
Weapons destined for the war in Ukraine and to fight terrorism in the Sahel have been diverted to West Africa and ended up in the hands of terrorist groups, Buhari said.
The stability in the region is threatened in the long term.
Ukraine war with consequences for Africa: Nigeria's president warns of weapons and terror
Experts are also warning of the effects of the Ukraine war on Africa.
Jaye Gaskia, chairman of Partnership Against Violent Extremism, told the Voice of America (VOA) that the longer the war dragged on, the greater the risk that different violent groups would try to take advantage of it.
Gaskia also sees the war in Ukraine as a threat to security in the African region.
Buhari emphasized that armed forces from several nations were planning joint operations to deal with the recent negative development.
At the same time, however, sustainable change in the region is needed.
However, because the Lake Chad Basin Commission is being hit by a financial crisis, the financial means in the fight against terrorism in the region are additionally limited.
Many of the members fail to meet their annual commitments.
Video: This is Nigeria
African security expert Patrick Agambu told VOA that the Commission's financial problems were caused by the global economic downturn resulting from the Ukraine war.
If it continues, it will have a lasting impact on the fight against terrorism, Agambu said.
"Nigeria in particular is affected and it will affect the intensity of the warfare," he said.
(fmu)