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Boko Haram links to IS alarm UN Security Council Boko Haram threat warning ahead of summit
(about 3 hours later)
The UN Security Council has said it is alarmed by ties between Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamist militants and the Islamic State (IS) group. Nigeria's militant group Boko Haram remains a threat, French President Francois Hollande has warned ahead of a summit in Nigeria's capital, Abuja.
In a statement, it said Boko Haram - which pledged allegiance to IS in 2015 - continued to "undermine the peace and stability" in West and Central Africa. This was the case despite "impressive" gains against the group, Mr Hollande said after meeting his Nigerian host Muhammadu Buhari.
Meanwhile, a senior US official said there were reports of Boko Haram fighters joining IS in Libya. Leaders of countries making up a force against the Islamist group are among those attending Saturday's summit.
Nigeria is to host a summit on Saturday on fighting Boko Haram. The group's seven-year insurgency has killed some 20,000 people.
President Muhammadu Buhari will welcome counterparts from Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger for the gathering in Abuja, along with French President Francois Hollande, UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken. More than two million have been displaced from their homes.
'More contacts' Boko Haram militants have been attacking civilian targets as the Nigerian military seeks to wrest territory from their control.
In the statement, the 15-member UN Security Council expressed "alarm at Boko Haram's linkages with the Islamic State". The group has established links with so-called Islamic State (IS), after pledging allegiance to it in 2015.
It also voiced its support for Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari's "crucial initiative" to hold the security summit in Abuja. President Muhammadu Buhari is welcoming counterparts from Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger for the gathering in Abuja, along with French President Francois Hollande, UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Meanwhile, Mr Blinken - who is already in Nigeria - said he was concerned by reports that Boko Haram militants were going to Libya, where IS influence has grown in recent months. Mr Blinken - who is already in Nigeria - said he was concerned by reports that Boko Haram militants were going to Libya, where IS influence has grown in recent months.
"We've seen that Boko Haram's ability to communicate has become more effective," he said."We've seen that Boko Haram's ability to communicate has become more effective," he said.
"They seem to have benefited from assistance from Daesh [IS].""They seem to have benefited from assistance from Daesh [IS]."
Mr Blinken added: "So these are all elements that suggests that there are more contacts and more co-operation, and this is again something that we are looking at very carefully because we want to cut it off."
At the same time, he declined to comment on whether the US would agree to a Nigerian request to sell it American war planes to fight Boko Haram.At the same time, he declined to comment on whether the US would agree to a Nigerian request to sell it American war planes to fight Boko Haram.
After meeting President Buhari ahead of the summit, Mr Hollande praised his host and the regional countries for their co-ordination, adding that France provided "intelligence, information, training and equipment".
"It is this cohesion, this solidarity, this strategy which has enabled the success we are witnessing," he said.
The UK foreign secretary said Britain was training 1,000 Nigerian soldiers to attack Boko Haram strongholds in the north-east.The UK foreign secretary said Britain was training 1,000 Nigerian soldiers to attack Boko Haram strongholds in the north-east.
Mr Hammond said the Islamist group was being "degraded", adding: "We must maintain the momentum to win the war, and build the right conditions for post-conflict stability in the region".Mr Hammond said the Islamist group was being "degraded", adding: "We must maintain the momentum to win the war, and build the right conditions for post-conflict stability in the region".
Boko Haram at a glanceBoko Haram at a glance
Who are Boko Haram?Who are Boko Haram?
Boko Haram militants have been attacking civilian targets as the Nigerian military seeks to wrest territory from their control.
The Islamist group's seven-year insurgency has killed some 20,000 people and driven more than two million people from their homes.