United States President Barack Obama has stated that the United States will send armed forces to the African nation of Cameroon in order to help in the effort against the Islamist militants Boko Haram.
Forces from the United States will mostly be in the region to monitor the situation and make sure that it does not get further out of control, as well as to send a message to violent extremist groups that their behavior will not be tolerated.
The United States will send 300 troops in order to conduct airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.
Islamic militants from northern Nigeria have targeted the African countries of Cameroon and Chad.
President Obama stated that the plan is to keep troops in Cameroon until they complete their mission and are no longer needed. He informed Congress that 90 troops were sent to Cameroon on Monday.
All of the troops in the country will be equipped with weapons for their own protection and security.
Since Boko Haram joined the Islamic State, the United States has determined that America and its allies in the region are under threat. Boko Haram and ISIS have both shown to be resistant of military operations from the armies of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.
There is not much known about the counter-attack to Boko Haram and ISIS, which is called the Multinational Joint Task Force. The Task Force is supported by the African Union.
In 2014, the United States sent surveillance planes to northeast Nigeria following the kidnap of 200 schoolgirls. The school girls still remain missing. Additionally, thousands of other people have also been killed as a result of violence in the region.
Boko Haram means “Western education is forbidden” in the Hausa language. The organization was founded in 2002, and it began military operations in 2009.
After joining the Islamic State, Boko Haram now calls itself the “West African province”.
The group has declared a “caliphate” in the region, referring to their belief that the successor to the Muslim prophet Muhammad has arrived.
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