Chad begins U.S.-backed military exercise as warm-up for Boko Haram

Chad launched a U.S.-backed counter-terrorism exercise on Monday grouping 1,300 soldiers from 28 African and Western countries, billing it as a warm-up for an offensive against Nigerian Islamist insurgent group Boko Haram. The “Flintlock” manoeuvres unfold as Chad and four neighbouring states prepare a taskforce to take on Boko Haram, the biggest security threat to…