July 22, 2026

Ouaga Press

Independent English-language coverage of Burkina Faso's most pressing news and developments.

Boko Haram threat surges in Lake Chad region despite military efforts

Chadian soldiers board a Multinational Joint Task Force boat at a military base in Lake Chad Province on May 6, 2026. Chad declared three days of national mourning after a new attack by Boko Haram jihadists on May 6 that killed two generals in the volatile Lake Chad Basin. Chadian soldiers are frequently targeted by Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region, a vast expanse of water and marshland dotted with islands, located between Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad. (Photo by Joris Bolomey / AFP)

The President of Chad, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, had issued a stern warning: « We will continue the fight with renewed determination until this threat is completely eradicated ». His statement, shared on Facebook on May 5th, came in response to a brazen attack by an affiliate of the Islamist militant group Boko Haram on the military base of Barka Tolorom, situated along the Chadian shores of Lake Chad. The assault left 24 soldiers dead.