EU-erklæring om Boko Haram

EUROPEAN UNION

19 JANUARY 2015

Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the Boko Haram Insurgency

The attack by Boko Haram on the border town of Baga is the latest in a long series of atrocities killing hundreds and displacing thousands of innocent people. Christians and Muslims alike have been targeted, with victims including traditional and religious leaders, teachers and students, farmers, market traders and villagers, and soldiers from Cameroon and Nigeria. The world has been horrified by the violence, particularly against women and children. The EU condemns in the strongest terms these indiscriminate killings by Boko Haram, which represent an attack against human rights and human dignity.

The EU expresses its condolences and solidarity with all victims and those close to them and underlines the urgent importance of supporting all the affected countries in ensuring the protection of their populations.

Increasingly frequent attacks, notably into Cameroon, demonstrate that the threat from Boko Haram has taken on a regional dimension. The insurgency has provoked a growing death toll, and population displacement on an unprecedented scale, within Nigeria and extending into Niger, Cameroon and Chad. The humanitarian situation is exacerbated by the remoteness of the areas concerned and the growing insecurity for humanitarian workers.

Only intensive regional co-operation between Nigeria and its neighbours can generate the local leadership that will bring a durable solution to a multidimensional challenge. We look forward to the achievement of concrete results at the next ministerial follow-up meeting to the Paris, London and Abuja Summits, to be held in Niamey on 20 January, at which the EU will participate.

The EU remains committed to providing a comprehensive range of political, counter-terrorism and development support measures to Nigeria and its neighbours, while continuing to provide humanitarian assistance to the populations affected by the crisis. The EU stands ready to support the region in ensuring effective follow-up to the Niamey conference and in any other measures which are necessary to address this threat.

The Candidate Countries Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Iceland+, Serbia* and Albania*, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the EFTA countries Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Armenia and Georgia.

* The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

+ Iceland continues to be a member of the EFTA and of the European Economic Area.