France, Israel Welcome UN Sanctions On Boko Haram

Following the decision of UN Security Council to place Boko Haram on a blacklist of al-Qaeda-linked groups on Thursday, France, Israel and China have reaffirmed their commitment to support Nigeria in its fight against the Islamist sect.

Jacques Champagne de Labriolle, Ambassador of France. Credit: France Diplomatie

French Ambassador to Nigeria, Jacques Champagne de Labriolle, said his country was ready to provide intelligence support to assist in finding the missing Chibok girls.

"We believe the mobilization against Boko Haram should be the same as the mobilization we have seen before against al-Qaeda and for the same reason," Labriolle said while speaking with journalists at the reception organised by the Chinese Embassy to mark the assumption of duty of the new ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie, in Abuja.

He stressed that Boko Haram was a problem of international concern that required collaborative actions. "These people cannot stop; it will only be getting worse and (it) has to be dealt with collectively," he added.

Gamboru Ngala town after Boko Haram raid on May 5, 2014

Last week, France held a regional summit on Boko Haram in Paris. The summit brought together French President Francois Hollande, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, and their counterparts from Benin, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

The Israeli ambassador, Uriel Palti, said his country shares the challenge of Nigeria. "Boko Haram, Alkeem, Al-Shabbab in Somali, etc, are all part of the arms of Iran, the influence of Iran, Al-Qaeda influence," he said.

According to Palti, the Israel Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, condemned the terrorist attacks carried out by Boko Haram and offered Nigeria the assistance of in combating the militants. A team of Israeli intelligence experts arrived to Nigeria this week to help locate the abducted Chibok girls.

A student who escaped when Boko Haram rebels stormed a school and abducted schoolgirls, identifies her schoolmates from a video released by the Islamist rebel group at the Government House in Maiduguri. Credit: Stringer/Reuters

Commenting the composition of the Israeli team in Nigeria, Palti said: "I won’t go into details but as I told you, the telephone call between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Goodluck (Jonathan) was a sign of great friendship between Israel and Nigeria."

Also speaking to newsmen, Gu Xiaojie, said China was strongly against any form of terrorism, especially violence against innocent people. He said China had taken note of Nigerian government’s request and stood ready to help in fighting the insurgents.

It will be recalled that the UN Security Council al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee on Thursday blacklisted Boko Haram after the insurgents kidnapped nearly 300 girls from a Chibok secondary school.