South Africa on Friday denied reports that its military personnel were deployed in Nigeria to help fight against militant group Boko Haram.
Any South African citizen fighting against Boko Haram will be regarded as mercenary and might face prosecution for violating the nation’s law, said South African National Defence Force spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini.
Earlier reports said Nigeria has brought in hundreds of mercenaries from South Africa to the northeastern state of Borno.
“These people are not members of the South African army,” Dlamini said.
Boko Haram launched its insurgency in Nigeria in 2009 aiming to create an Islamic state within the country. At least 2,000 civilians have been killed by the group this year.
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