Nigeria's military said on Thursday that it is exploring diplomatic options with countries that have left the West African bloc ECOWAS, as part of an effort to "reposition" the Multinational Joint Task Force, the Lake Chad-basin force set up against Boko Haram and its offshoots.
Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, Nigeria's director of defence information, told a security briefing in Abuja that a forum of serving and former force commanders, academics and other experts had reviewed the force's achievements and gaps. "We also examined the diplomatic alternatives and options available to address issues arising from the withdrawal of those countries from ECOWAS," he said, according to The Nation. He said some proposals were already being implemented, without saying which, and promised "dividends" soon.
The force groups Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, the Republic of Niger and Benin, The Nation reported. Niger announced its withdrawal in March 2025 and pulled out its troops. The African Union's Peace and Security Council said on 18 May that it saw the step as a temporary suspension and urged Niger to resume full participation, including staff officers at the force's headquarters in N'Djamena. It also pointed to shortfalls in equipment and funding, according to its communiqué. The briefing announced no return by Niger.