African regional bloc to provide 900 million to combat Boko Haram

The leaders of Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) agreed Monday in an extraordinary summit to provide Cameroon and Chad with an emergency aid of 50 billion FCFA (about 100 million U.S. dollars) to combat Boko Haram.

The summit was attended by six presidents of ECCAS countries, including Cameroonian President Paul Biya, Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno, Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Gabonese President Ali Bongo, Congolese President Deniss Sassou Nguesso and Central African Republic provisional President Catherine Samba-Panza.

"Everyone will contribute according to his ability, but the most important thing is to set up these fund quickly to deal with the situation," said General Allam-Mi, secretary of the ECCAS.

The six heads of state of ECCAS and other participants signed the Yaounde Declaration before the summit concluded Monday afternoon in which they reiterated the necessity to work collectively to eradicate the terrorists. They also agreed to fully cooperate with the Economic Community of West African States for the fight against Boko Haram.

"We engage to immediately bring multifaceted support to Cameroon, Chad and all the other member states who would be affected by the terrorist group notably military, financial, logistics and humanitarian support," the declaration said.

The ECCAS leaders also called on the international community to maintain and increase its support for the fight against Boko Haram.

ECCAS is a regional economic community including 10 countries which are Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Quinea, Congo, Cong Democratic Republic, Angola, Burundi and Sao Tome and Principe.