Addis Ababa – African Union (AU) Commission president Moussa Faki Mahamat has strongly condemned Friday's cowardly and deadly attack by terrorist group Boko Haram on the Chadian army in the Lake Chad region, close to the Nigerian border.
Nine Chadian soldiers were killed in the attack and about 40 Boko Haram jihadists were also killed as the army responded to the attack, the AU said in a statement on Saturday.
Mahamat expressed the condolences of the AU to the president and government of Chad as well as to the families of the victims and wished the wounded a speedy recovery.
He also welcomed the "prompt and energetic reaction of the Chadian army, which has killed more than 40 people on the side of terrorists". Mahamat further reiterated the solidarity of the AU in Chad and the other countries of the Lake Chad basin through continued support for the work of the mixed multinational force (FMM).
"In line with its support for the countries affected by the atrocities of the terrorist group Boko Haram, the president of the commission, together with the commissioner for peace and security, will immediately undertake a visit to the countries of the region to ensure the AU's determination to continue its contribution to their efforts to combat Boko Haram.
"The president of the commission once again stressed that terrorism posed a threat to world peace and security. In this regard, it reiterates its call on the international community as a whole to strengthen international co-operation in the prevention and combating of terrorism and violent extremism," the AU said.