Go Back

Journal VOL. 4 NO. 1, June. 2025, ISSN: 2714 - 4054

 

AN APPRAISAL OF THE ROLE OF THE AFRICAN UNION IN MULTINATIONAL JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATIONS IN THE LAKE CHAD BASIN

Ukaeje Obinna

 

ABSTRACT

On 29 January 2015, the African Union Peace and Security Council authorised the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) counterinsurgency operation to tackle the menace of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in the Lake Chad Basin. Accordingly, the authorisation validated the Mission despite not being an AU-mandated mission. Beyond the validation, the AU plays other significant roles in the Mission, such as logistics assistance and operational coordination, towards strengthening the MNJTF in realising its mandate. The study evaluates the role of the AU using a descriptive research method, which involves in-depth interviews and documentary sources. The study found that the AU has played a significant role in improving the performance of the MNJTF in the region, such as endorsement and legitimisation of the Force, strategic guidance, capacity building, logistics support, and coordination of the Troops Contributing Countries (TCCs). Despite these efforts, the conflict has remained intractable, while the MNJTF faces challenges of poor funding, gaps in logistics, and operational equipment, including poor coordination of the troops for operations. The study recommended among others that the AU should explore an alternative means of funding, and closer cooperation with international partners among others to improve its role in the Mission as well as the performance of the Force towards realising its mandate in the Lake Chad Basin.

 

Keywords: African Union, Peace and Security, Multinational Joint Task Force, Military Operations, and Counterinsurgency.

 

Download the full text uploaded