Assessing the Multinational Joint Task Force against Boko Haram

The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), a coalition of Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, and Chad, along with Benin, was established to combat Boko Haram. While the force has achieved some operational gains since early 2016, it continues to struggle with significant financial shortfalls, political mistrust among member states, and a gap between official claims of operationality and the reality on the ground. The African Union (AU) serves as a critical strategic and technical partner, filling an institutional vacuum left by the Lake Chad Basin Commission's (LCBC) limited experience in peace operations.

• The MNJTF is a coalition of Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, and Chad, joined by non-member Benin, operating under the political oversight of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) and the strategic support of the African Union (AU).
• The African Union (AU) became the principal partner for the MNJTF because the LCBC lacked the necessary experience and capacity to manage a large-scale peace operation, specifically in administrative, financial, and logistical management.
• The force's operationalization was delayed by political tensions, particularly under former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, whose leadership was viewed as an impediment to regional cooperation.
• Severe financial constraints have hindered the MNJTF, with an initial budget requirement of nearly US$700 million. Most costs are currently borne by the member states, and a 50 million euro pledge from the European Union was delayed due to AU audit procedures.
• While officially operational, the MNJTF's effectiveness is questioned; for example, a violent attack on Bosso, Niger, on 3 June 2016 occurred despite the area being within the MNJTF's operational sphere.
• The MNJTF only began large-scale operations in early 2016, including Operation Arrow Five in February and Operation Gama Aiki in June. In the first five months of 2016, it reportedly neutralized at least 675 presumed Boko Haram members and freed nearly 4,690 hostages.

APA

Assanvo, W., Abatan, J. E. A., & Sawadogo, W. A. (2016). Assessing the Multinational Joint Task Force against Boko Haram. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/war19.pdf

Chicago

Assanvo, William, Jeannine Ella A Abatan, and Wendyam Aristide Sawadogo. Assessing the Multinational Joint Task Force against Boko Haram. Institute for Security Studies, 2016. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/war19.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Assanvo |first1=William |last2=Abatan |first2=Jeannine Ella A |last3=Sawadogo |first3=Wendyam Aristide |title=Assessing the Multinational Joint Task Force against Boko Haram |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=September 2016 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/war19.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{assanvo2016assessing, author = {Assanvo, William and Abatan, Jeannine Ella A and Sawadogo, Wendyam Aristide}, title = {{Assessing the Multinational Joint Task Force against Boko Haram}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2016}, month = sep, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/war19.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }