Niger parliament approves troops deployment to fight Boko Haram

The Niger Parliament has unanimously approved deployment of troops to Nigeria alongside other forces from neighbouring countries to fight against Boko Haram sect.

The Nigerien constitution stipulates that before deployment of the country's defence and security forces for external operations, the government must get parliamentary approval.

The approval Monday comes at a time when Niger's eastern regions of Bosso and Diffa that neighbour Nigeria, have come under persistent attacks since last Friday from Boko Haram which has been operating from its Nigerian bases, Xinhua news agency reported.

The attacks have caused a total of seven deaths among the defence and security forces, and left many civilians and soldiers injured.

The attacks were quickly contained by Nigerien forces, assisted by their Chadian counterparts. During the confrontation, about 100 Boko Haram fighters were killed, security sources said.

A total of 8,700 soldiers from countries neighbouring Nigeria, mainly Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin, are expected to be deployed in northern Nigeria to fight against Boko Haram which, since 2009, has killed over 15,000 people.

Niger's Speaker Hamadou Salifou said by authorising the troops deployment to Nigeria, Niger will be responding to at least three cardinal principles: guaranteeing the security of its citizens, expressing solidarity with a friendly country, Nigeria, and honouring its international engagements by promptly responding to the African Union call for the creation of a regional force to fight the Boko Haram.