The telephone exchange between Presidents Paul Biya and Muhammadu Buhari following the death of their counterpart Idriss Déby Itno calls for a change of strategies in the security system deployed against the terrorist sect Boko Haram.
“The disappearance of Marshal of Chad is a huge loss for your country, Central Africa and our continent, which he will have served tirelessly, and for many years”. This excerpt from the message of the Cameroonian head of state Paul Biya following the death of his “eminent Chadian brother” Idriss Déby Itno lets shine in the background, the immense void created in the regional and continental system of the fight against terrorism.
In recent years, Idriss Déby and the Chadian army have positioned themselves as the lock against the expansion of terrorism in the Lake Chad region, where Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria and Chad are the target of Boko Haram attacks. . The Chadian army, which commands the Multinational Joint Force (FMM) made up of the armies of the countries mentioned in addition, is particularly at the forefront to block the way for terrorists. The disappearance of the Marshal of Chad requires at least a strategic revision in the device deployed against Boko Haram in a context where the other leaders of the region Paul Biya and Muhammadu Buhari rarely wore the fatigues of commander-in-chief of the army.
The harmonization of timetables and the health crisis linked to the Coronavirus pandemic may well be invoked for the “postponement” of the summit of heads of state against Boko Haram that the current situation requires a redistribution of the cards in the security system. Said summit under the supervision of the UN which could have taken place last March or in April could not be held also because of the “unavailability” of certain international partners, in this case, the United States. , France, Russia, Great Britain which should take part. What to do now that the leading figure in the fight against terrorism in the Lake Chad region has passed away?
According to our information, French diplomacy, which intends to maintain its grip in the precinct, is campaigning for a high-level meeting to be held on the sidelines of President Idriss Déby’s funeral this Friday in Ndjamena under the leadership of French President Emmanuel Macron expected in the Chadian capital. A project which could not achieve the expected objectives because, except for last minute changes, neither Paul Biya, nor Muhammadu Buhari “for health reasons” are expected to make the trip on April 23, 2021.
However, reliable information reports, the Cameroonian and Nigerian presidents have increased telephone contacts since the death of their Chadian counterpart who had justly threatened last year that the Chadian army would no longer go to fight “outside national borders”, expressing his annoyance at the somewhat “timid” attitude of his counterparts.
In this context, the “warming” between Paul Biya and Muhammadu Buhari is understandable or even inevitable, if as long as the two leaders are obliged “to go to the front” to limit incursions, hostage-taking, suicide attacks that are taking place. are multiplied in recent months, especially in Niger and Nigeria. Fears of seeing the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in Cameroon and Chad are real, especially since the opening of an armed front with incursions by rebels from the Front for Alternation and Concord in Chad (FACT) , from which Idriss Déby was fatally injured will necessarily have an impact on the functioning of the Chadian army deployed on several fronts against terrorism.
According to analysts, the ongoing consultations at the borders involving the senior officers of the Cameroonian and Nigerian armies are the translation into the facts of the taking in hand, more than in the past, of the Boko Haram file by Paul Biya and Mohammadu Buhari, aware without doubt that the data has changed.
