The government of Switzerland has issued a press statement denying being involved in the funding of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) which is currently fighting a war against Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram.
The European country, emphasised in its statement on Thursday, February 4, 2016 that it is ‘historically’ maintained a neutral position in conflict situations and that it has never been a financial supporter of military interventions and it intends to continue to abstain from military conflict in the future.
The Swiss government clarified that its $12 million allocation to the Lake Chad Region efforts were solely and exclusively for financial support for humanitarian agencies working in the region.
“Switzerland’s historic commitment to humanitarian aid, the protection of individuals and the promotion of peace is known throughout the world. As a neutral actor in conflict situations, Switzerland has never given financial support to military interventions and will abstain from doing so in the future,” the statement, published on the website of the country’s Foreign Affairs Department said.
“The declaration of 1 February 2016 regarding Switzerland’s funding of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) is thus incorrect. Switzerland’s action in the Lake Chad region consists solely and exclusively in the financial support to the major humanitarian agencies.
“To date, Switzerland allocated close to USD 12m to mitigate the affected population’s suffering from the Boko Haram crisis in the region. Most resources have been granted to Protection and Food security/Nutrition-related programs in neighboring countries (Niger, Cameroon) to Multilateral partners (WFP, UNHCR, ICRC) and NGOs (International Rescue Committee, COOPI, Croix-Rouge française).
“Furthermore, Switzerland supports peace processes, peacebuilding as well as sustainable development initiatives and programs in the wider Sahel region,” the statement concluded.
