Boko Haram Still Occupies Territory in Nigeria - USAFRICOM Commander

Coming about two months after President Muhammadu Buhari told the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, that Boko Haram was no longer “holding any territory as we speak,” the commander of the US Africa Command, USAFRICOM, General David Rodriguez, has stated that the terrorist group is still holding territories in Northern Nigeria.

Premium Times quotes Rodriguez as declaring this on Tuesday in response to a question during testimony before the US Senate Armed Services Committee reviewing fiscal year 2017 defence budget. He appeared before the Senate committee with Generals Lloyd Austin of US Central Command and Joseph Votel of US Special Operations Command.

The four-star General’s comment about Boko Haram was in reaction to a question by Senator Angus King of Maine who asked about Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram more than 90 minutes into the testimony.

 Angus’ direct question to General Rodriguez was: “Is Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram growing; are they adding members? I know they don’t hold territory, are they adding areas of influence?” to which Rodriguez replied, “actually sir, Boko Haram does hold some significant territories in Northern Nigeria as do Al-Shabaab in limited areas of Somalia.”

He added that recently there is a “tactical upswing” in Al-Shabaab’s operations in Somali but did not elaborate on Boko Haram’s operations, adding in his written testimony to the Senate Committee that containing and degrading the ISIL-affiliated Boko Haram remains one of AFRICOM’s top priority.

To this, Rodriguez said: “We are watching carefully for signs that the threat posed by Boko Haram to US persons is growing as a result of the group’s alignment with ISIL”.

He praised MNJTF allies and partners such as the African Union, France, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the Department of State for engaging in the counter-Boko Haram effort.

 “Our engagement now can assist our African partners in realizing their potential and gaining the capability to solve African problems,” Rodriguez said, adding that “African solutions to African problems are, in the long run, in the best interest of Africans, Americans, and indeed the world.”

Buhari, who was speaking on the sidelines of the World Future Energy Summit in the UAE, was then reported to have said Nigerian Armed Forces in collaboration with the Multinational Joint Task Force, MNTJF, had driven the terrorist group from Nigerian territory into “fall-back positions.”