Niger joins Chad and Nigeria in fight against Boko Haram; new alliance to help protect Catholic communities in west Africa

The African Union has created a 7,500 man multi-nation military task force in order to combat the Islamist group Boko Haram. The terrorist group intends to create an Islamic state in the territory of northern Nigeria, Cameroon and Niger, and so far Chad - Africa's preeminent military power - has stepped up and handed the terrorists several defeats.

ALGIERS, ALGERIA (Catholic Online) - Now Niger is deciding whether it will back the multi-national coalition and send troops into the fight, earmarking a vote for February 9.

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According to local sources, the country's representatives are nearly unanimous in their desire to approve Niger's entry into the war against the terrorists under command of Abu Bakr Shekau.

While Chad is the first Sahelian country that has committed itself to the fight, Niger's entry may prompt a firmer and more concrete response from neighboring African nations.

Chadian soldiers have launched airstrikes into Nigeria against Boko Haram, and have physically entered the nation with their forces. Currently their goal is to reclaim and reinforce the strategic town of Maiduguri, and they will also dislodge the group from Baga-the site of a recent atrocity wherein Boko Haram murdered 2,000 people.

Since 2009, Boko Haram has caused the deaths of over 13,000 people, have displaced tens of thousands more, and driven off or killed many educators and students.

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Nigeria has currently been unable to, or unwilling to deal with the group. Battles between the two forces usually are defensive skirmishes, though Nigeria is winning here.

The African Union is well aware of the danger Boko Haram presents. Currently much of North Africa is in civil war between Islamist groups, governments and moderate rebels, and the Islamic State-though not in Africa currently-dose pose an ideological threat as a rallying force in the Islamist world.

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