Nigeria: Hostage rescue negotiations success or failure?

(Baonghean.vn) - On Friday, October 17, the Nigerian government said that negotiations to release 200 schoolgirls kidnapped in April by the terrorist group Boko Haram had achieved some success.

On Friday, the Nigerian president and the army announced that they had signed a ceasefire agreement with the Islamist militant group Boko Haram. "Boko Haram has agreed to release the schoolgirls kidnapped six months ago," said Hassan Tukur, an adviser to the Nigerian president.

The Nigerian government has announced new progress in talks to free 200 hostages kidnapped in April. Photo: Afolabi Sotunde

Since September, meetings between the Nigerian President and Boko Haram representatives have been initiated. Foreign Minister Moussa Faki Mahamat announced that “Mediation has begun at the request of both parties, who have agreed to resolve the dispute peacefully and in good faith.”

A week ago, the Islamist group released 10 Chinese and 17 Cameroonian hostages. Moussa Faki Mahamat explained that both sides agreed to observe the ceasefire and that the release of the hostages would be negotiated again within a week at the earliest. Nigerian authorities have pledged to release those held by Boko Haram.

On April 15, Boko Haram gunmen stormed a school in Chibok, shot at guards, burned several houses and kidnapped 267 girls aged between 12 and 17. Dozens of them reportedly escaped.

Now, people are doubting the authenticity of the negotiations. Marc-Antoine de Perouse Montclos, a researcher at the Institute for Development Studies (IRD), assessed that “It is necessary to put this information in the context of the upcoming general elections in the country”. Previously, the reputation of the Nigerian authorities was seriously affected by the announcement of the death of the head of Boko Haram – Aboubakar Sheka.

Doubts were raised again when Shehu Sani gave an interview on Friday. Shehu Sani said, “I have never heard of this man who is supposed to be the representative of Boko Haram. If Boko Haram declares a ceasefire, it will be announced by the leader of the Islamist group, Aboubakar Sheka.” Shehu Sani is known to be an expert on Boko Haram and has had extensive experience negotiating with Boko Haram alongside the Nigerian government.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense announced that fierce fighting continued on Wednesday and Thursday in northern Cameroon near the Nigerian border, leaving eight Cameroonian soldiers and 107 Boko Haram militants dead.

Chu Thanh– According to LeMonde October 17