Roundtable with Nigeria’s chief of army staff

On Tuesday, September 13, the Africa Center hosted a roundtable discussion with Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, chief of the army staff of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who gave participants an update on the country’s war against Boko Haram.

Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham welcomed participants, introduced Buratai, and, following his prepared remarks, moderated the discussion.

Buratai detailed his priorities in ongoing operations against Boko Haram, specifically noting the military’s shift under President Muhammadu Buhari to adopt a more aggressive and offensive posture against the terrorist insurgents. He also detailed the mechanisms that the military has put into place to improve accountability and strengthen its respect of human rights.

The Nigerian delegation at the event included Brigadier General Anthony Olu Folorunsho, commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry; Brigadier General Ezra Jahadi Jakko, chief of accounts and budget of the Nigerian Army; Brigadier General Usman Shehu Mohammed, chief of staff to the chief of the army staff of the Nigerian Army; and Air Commodore Mohammed Aminu Yakubu, defense attaché at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Also in attendance and participating in the discussion were representatives from the US government, private sector, and non-governmental organizations.

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Image: Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (center), Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, speaks at the Atlantic Council with Nigerian Embassy Defense Attaché Air Commodore Mohammed Aminu Yakubu (left) and Africa Center Director Dr. J. Peter Pham (right).