The United Kingdom says it is setting aside £12.6 million this financial year to support efforts to combat terror in the Lake Chad Basin region, notably Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, which are all affected by the receding lake and terrorism by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa.
UK Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, who announced the funding plan, particularly decried the growing threat of Daesh-linked groups in Africa, including the Islamic State West Africa.
At a meeting of the Global Coalition against Daesh in Rome on Monday, Raab said: “Two years since Daesh’s territorial defeat in Iraq and Syria, the threat of Daesh and its hateful ideology has not gone away.
“Worryingly, it continues to grow in Africa, which is why we must work with our coalition partners to fight its poisonous propaganda on all fronts.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with our African partners to tackle the growing threat from Daesh-linked groups across Africa, particularly in the Lake Chad Basin.”
According to a statement by the Policy and Communications Manager, British High Commission in Nigeria, Elva Lynch-Bathgate, on Monday, the Foreign Secretary announced the new UK funding to fight the growing threat of terrorism in West Africa.
According to the statement, the funds will be used to support regional forces to counter the Daesh threat, encourage fighters to leave the group, and support the stabilisation of areas for local communities, improving community security and restoring essential infrastructure and basic services, through support to the regional stabilisation facility.
Foreign Ministers from more than 45 countries met on Monday to discuss deepening cooperation to combat Daesh and its affiliate terrorist groups, including emerging threats across the African continent.
The statement said the UK is funding a new Conflict, Stability and Security Fund programme for the Lake Chad Basin region of West Africa, where Daesh’s affiliate, ISWA, is responsible for significant violence, noting that this new regional fund replaces the previous North East Nigeria CSSF fund.
It said: “The UK government continues to work with Nigeria to respond to the drivers of the conflict, through a comprehensive package of security support and supporting a civilian-led process for stabilisation.
“The UK is also providing humanitarian assistance to respond to the lifesaving needs of people affected by the conflict.”
Meanwhile, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, has said the UK remains absolutely committed to the lasting defeat of Daesh and its affiliates.
Laing said: “I welcome this announcement of new funding which will enable us to continue to support the efforts of our Nigerian and other regional partners. Together we will tackle this pressing threat and address the longer-term drivers of conflict.”
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