Military offensive launched by Chad, Niger

Chad and Niger launched a joint army operation against Boko Haram militants in Nigeria on Sunday, military sources said, stepping up a regional push to end the Sunni Muslim group's six-year insurgency.

The operation, which follow a sustained buildup of troops in southern Niger, opens up a new front in regional efforts to wipe out the Islamist group, whose six-year insurgency has spread across borders. It also follows Boko Haram's pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State group at the weekend.

Sunday's operation marks Niger's first major push into Nigerian territory to combat Boko Haram.

Nigeria's government appealed for greater international help in combating the insurgency after Boko Haram pledged allegiance on Saturday to Islamic State, the violent jihadi organization that rules a self-declared caliphate in parts of Iraq and Syria.

The African Union on Friday had endorsed the creation of an additional regional force of up to 10,000 men to join the fight against Boko Haram. Western powers have so far largely stayed out of direct involvement in the conflict, viewing it as an essentially "local" problem.

But Boko Haram's pledge of allegiance to Islamic State, in an audio message on Saturday night, could be a game-changer, analysts said.

"Operating as an IS proxy could draw Western efforts against its operations, particularly from France, which already runs a multicountry anti-terrorist campaign in the west and central African region," said Ryan Cummings, from risk consultants Red24.

Reuters - AFP