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Yaounde — Cameroon’s president says his country will contribute 2,450 troops to a five-nation army to fight the Nigeria-based Islamic extremist group Boko Haram, nearly tripling his initial pledge.
President Paul Biya announced the new troop total in a statement on Friday night.
At a meeting in Cameroon in February, Nigeria and a group of neighbouring countries that also includes Chad, Niger and Benin agreed to deploy around 8,700 troops against Boko Haram, which became an affiliate of the Islamic State group earlier this year.
Cameroon initially pledged to contribute 750 troops. Biya said on Friday the increase followed recommendations from a June summit meeting of regional leaders.
Chad President Idriss Deby said this week that the regional force based in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena, would be deployed in days. — AP
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