H.E. Mr. Felix Yusufu Pwol:

There is a Paris conference in June 2014, which is intended to be a follow up to review what has been done. By way of background, it has become clear that Boko Haram has been operating not only from Nigerian territory but from neighbouring countries. In the last few months, there has been greater co-ordination of action principally with Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. Unfortunately, I do not have a map with me, but if members know the geography of Nigeria, the states involved border it to the north, principally Chad and Cameroon. It has been established that following its attacks, Boko Haram seeks safe hideouts in Cameroon. That is why Cameroon was brought on board. Small arms have also been a major part of this problems. Nigeria is a leading member of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, and we are trying to enforce the ECOWAS convention on small arms signed in 2006.

Regarding Boko Haram's links to other organisations, I honestly do not know. I must say that this is a new phenomenon in west Africa, as we have seen. It is only as this crisis has evolved that we have been able to establish these links. If one looks at west Africa from Mali and moves eastwards, there is a clear link. The arms that came from Libya after the collapse of the Gadaffi regime have also been established as a factor as one moves eastwards through Chad, central Africa and up to Somalia. It is important to recognise that we are dealing with an evolving situation and I do not know whether anybody can authoritatively say "This is why it is". We are trying to follow and monitor what is happening as things evolve. It is a very fluid situation but I can tell the committee that with the meeting in France and international support from our immediate neighbours, ECOWAS, the African Union and the UN, we are very optimistic that we will make major headway in the next few months. I do not know if I missed anything.