Benin’s president, Thomas Boni Yayi, has vowed to contribute 800 troops to the regional force fighting Boko Haram.
Yayi made the pledge on Saturday, during President Buhari‘s visit, according to U.S News & World Report.
“This is an opportunity for Benin to express solidary with countries on the front line against the Islamic sect, Boko Haram. This solidary will result in the sending of a contingent of 800 men from Benin’s army,” Boni Yayi said.
The report also states:
Deployment of the regional force has been delayed for lack of funds. At a meeting in Cameroon in February, Nigeria and a group of neighboring countries that also includes Chad, Cameroon and Niger agreed to deploy around 8,700 troops, with Benin pledging 250.
The 6-year-old uprising has killed 20,000 people and driven nearly 20 million from their homes. Multinational troops earlier this year forced the extremists out of towns they had held, but Nigerian politicians now say Boko Haram is again seizing territory.
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