The US Government has come out to clarify the amount it contributed to the fight against insurgent group, Boko Haram.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had reported that the US had promised to donate $5 billion, but the US, in a statement issued by Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US assistant secretary, Bureau of African Affairs and dated Tuesday, June 16, 2015, the American government said it contributed $5 million.
Thomas-Greenfield also used the opportunity to give details of the plans the US Government has for the fight against Boko Haram and the regional Multi Nation Joint Task Force set up to combat the threat posed by Boko Haram.
She said: “Yesterday, Monday, June 15, members of the US government delegation to the African Union Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa briefed reporters on the range of U.S. engagement in Africa. “It was widely reported that the United States is offering $5 billion to the Multinational Joint Task Force to fight Boko Haram. The U.S. Embassy wishes to clarify that the amount is $5 million.
“We have been working with Nigeria, as well as the other countries in the region, to address their concerns about Boko Haram, because we don’t see this as just a Nigeria problem.
“And with the new government, we are having discussions with them on how we might bolster our support. That said, we have already been working with them on providing information, providing some training and support, and we look to, with this new administration, to see how we might increase the level of support that we are providing to Nigeria.
“At the same time, we have just announced since I have been here at the AU, a $5 million contribution to the Multinational Task Force. This is funding going to the AU. We are also providing some equipment and support, and we had a number of meetings with the countries who are members of the Multinational Task Force to look at other areas that we might support.
“We actually have a very strong partnership with the government of Chad. We have been working with the Chadian government and the Chadian military, particularly in their efforts against Boko Haram.
“We have supported them, as well, as they have fought against those who have attacked Mali, and we will continue to engage with this government, because they have been a good partner on fighting terrorism in the region.”
