African Nations Form Military Coalition To Combat Boko Haram

While Boko Haram is attempting to establish a caliphate of its own across central Africa, military forces from many of the countries surrounding Nigeria have been successfully pushing back with pre-emptive strikes.

Officials of Chad’s army said last week that their troops, along with forces from neighboring Niger, had successfully driven Boko Haram militants from one of their last major footholds in Malam Fatori, along Nigeria’s border with Niger.

Hundreds of Boko Haram fighters were reported killed in the push to retake the area. The ability of the Chad and Nigerien forces to stave off Boko Haram comes in stark contrast to previous attempts by the Nigerian military to combat the terrorist group.

“The Chadians have a huge interest in pushing Boko Haram back from the border,” Scott Stewart, Vice President of Tactical Analysis for global intelligence and advisory firm Stratfor told FoxNews.com. “They are very concerned but they are also very well-prepared and fairly well trained.”

Niger is also serious about stopping the spread of Boko Haram into its territory.

“There is nothing Islamic about Boko Haram. Abducting and raping women, killing innocent people, drinking human blood ... these are not the most efficient ways of spreading Islam.

“Boko Haram has no future; Boko Haram will be defeated, God willing,” he added.

Joining Niger and Chad in the new regional military alliance are Cameroon, Benin and Nigeria as part of a Multi-National Joint Task (MNJTF.)

In addition, leaders of countries from central and west Africa will be hold a summit to specifically devise a new joint strategy, Agence France Presse reported.