President claims Boko Haram is “technically” defeated, but hardship persists among civilians.

Map of Nigeria, showing the location of the state of Borno, in the north-east of the country Map of Nigeria, showing the location of the state of Borno, in the north-east of the country

12 January 2017
Although Boko Haram is allegedly losing ground, people are still struggling with disastrous consequences brought on by the conflict.

On 24 December 2016 Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari announced the “technical” defeat of Boko Haram, explaining that the Nigerian army had ousted the armed group from their stronghold in the Sambisa forest located in the north-eastern state of Borno.

This statement was delivered just in time to meet the government’s promise to end the rebellion before 2017. Only a few days later, however, the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, appeared in a video in which he threatened that war is not yet over. Indeed, although the rebel group has been losing ground recently, suicide attacks persist.

It is estimated that about 15,000 people have lost their lives and almost two million are internally displaced as a result of Boko Haram’s violence. Besides violence, people in north-east Nigeria are experiencing high levels of hardship, namely a lack of food imports from neighbouring countries. Food aid often does not reach its intended recipients due to corruption at local and/or national governmental levels.

 

For further information:

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2016/12/boko-haram-decline-raises-hopes-displaced-161226162434052.html
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/specialseries/2016/11/boko-haram-rise-nigeria-armed-group-161101145500150.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38427462
http://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2016/12/29/boko-haram-n-a-ete-chasse-de-nulle-part-affirme-son-chef_5055343_3212.html

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