AFRICAN UNION UNION AFRICAINE UNIÃO AFRICANA Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, P.O. Box: 3243 Tel.: (251-11) 5513 822 Fax: (251-11) 5519 321 Email: situationroom@africa-union.org PRESS RELEASE THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSIONER FOR PEACE AND SECURITY MET THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE LAKE CHAD BASIN COMMISSION AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF MULTINATIONAL JOINT TASK FORCE AND HANDED OVER AU ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THE MULTINATIONAL JOINT TASK FORCE IN N’DJAMENA, CHAD N’Djamena, 17 February 2017: The African Union (AU) Commissioner for Peace and Security, H.E. Amb. Smail Chergui, accompanied by H.E Zaina Nyiramatama, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission in Chad, visited the Headquarters of Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in N’djamena, Chad. The Ministers of Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), who were also in N’djamena, attended the visit in the margins of the 67th Council of Ministers. Brig Gen Mahamat Moussa Djoui, the Deputy Force Commander of MNJTF on behalf of Maj Gen LO Adeosun, the Force Commander, briefed the delegation on the security situation and the progress made by the MNJTF in the fight against Boko Haram terrorist group. The Commissioner congratulated the MNJTF for successful operations conducted which significantly degraded Boko Haram terrorist group which currently does not hold any ground in the Lake Chad Basin. The Commissioner saluted those who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty and in quest to bring the region back to normalcy. The Commissioner indicated that his visit particularly to LCBC/MNJTF is an indication of AU’s renewed engagement in the aspect of peace and security not only in the Lake Chad Basin but also on the entire Continent of Africa. The Commissioner for Peace and Security also held discussion with the Minister of Defence and the Minister of Security of the Republic of Chad and discussed among others the handling of Boko Haram surrenders and the support required. The Commissioner handed over 15 utility vehicles, 15 heavy duty generators of different capacities and 30 rough terrain motorcycles.