ICC Note: French President Francois Hollande warns that Boko Haram remains a serious security threat ahead of a multinational conference among world leaders to discuss strategies to defeat the Islamist insurgency. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari will be hosting the meeting, which includes foreign policy officials from the United States (U.S.) and United Kingdom (U.K.), as well as heads of state from neighboring nations Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Benin. Boko Haram continues to afflict northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad region with regular suicide bombings. Their seven-plus-year insurgency has killed more than 20,000 people, has destroyed at least 13,000 churches, and has often uniquely targeted Christians in their quest to stablish an Islamic caliphate in West Africa.

5/17/16 Nigeria (BBC) – Nigeria’s militant group Boko Haram remains a threat, French President Francois Hollande has warned ahead of a summit in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.

This was the case despite “impressive” gains against the group, Mr Hollande said after meeting his Nigerian host Muhammadu Buhari.

Leaders of countries making up a force against the Islamist group are among those attending Saturday’s summit.

The group’s seven-year insurgency has killed some 20,000 people.

More than two million have been displaced from their homes.

Boko Haram militants have been attacking civilian targets as the Nigerian military seeks to wrest territory from their control.

The group has established links with so-called Islamic State (IS), after pledging allegiance to it in 2015.

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