Is this the end of Boko Haram? African nations join military forces to destroy the dreaded terrorist group

More African nations have joined together against the Nigerian based Islamist group, Boko Haram, signaling renewed hope that the days this deadly group does as it pleases in northern Nigeria may be numbered.

ALGIERS, ALGERIA (Catholic Online) - In a meeting on February 5, in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, five African countries pledged to create a force of 8,700 soldiers. Their goal will be to destroy Boko Haram in conjunction with a 7,000 plus multinational task force created by the African Union, which holds similar goals.

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Benin, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria and Chad are the five nations in this particular force - which had been dubbed "N'Ga" or "Shield" - who will do battle with the jihadists.

3,000 Nigerian troops have currently been fighting Boko Haram in two cities around Niger's border with Nigeria. Chad has also made several gains against the Islamists, leaving hundreds of these gunmen dead.

What each country in this alliance is expected to contribute, and an initial budget are being worked on currently.

According to a local specialist, this war against the Islamists will last a long time.

"What can make this war confused and complicated is the fact that Boko Haram's elements know the ground, and in addition to their different origins. It is not vain to focus also on the dormant cells that will be reactivated in the coming days likely to cause the different armies to face enormous difficulties" an expert told Catholic Online on a condition of anonymity.

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Ahmed Aghama, an expert on Mali, where al-Qaeda forces where recently ousted by French and Chad - the preeminent military power in Africa - soldiers, said that Chad's current forces battling the Isalmists are well prepared for the fighting.

"(The) Chadian army has an experience in the fight against terrorist organizations in the region. It is a regional force having acquired a special skill and experience during its participation in the war in the Northern Mali a few years ago."

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