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After years of trying to limit international attention to the extremist group Boko Haram, Nigeria has switched course and has now secured global recognition of the Islamist militants as a terrorist organization.

The United Nations Security Council, acting on a Nigerian request, on Thursday placed Boko Haram on the UN鈥檚 list of terrorist organizations associated with Al Qaeda.

Nigeria, currently serving on the 15-member council as one of 10 rotating members, made the request Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, President Obama announced that 80 US military personnel have been sent to Chad on Nigeria鈥檚 northeastern border. The troops are assigned to helping in what has become an international search for more than 270 Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in April and still being held by the radical group.

Nigeria鈥檚 acceptance and indeed solicitation of international assistance in dealing with Boko Haram marks a shift from past efforts to downplay the seriousness of the violent group鈥檚 threat to the country鈥檚 security and stability. Just two years ago, the government of Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan pressed the State Department not to place Boko Haram on the US list of terrorist organizations.

The US did ultimately place the group on its list of terrorist organizations last fall after determining in particular that Boko Haram had growing ties to Al Qaeda-affiliated groups in Africa鈥檚 Sahel and Maghreb regions.

Placing Boko Haram on the UN鈥檚 list of Al Qaeda-affiliated entities elevates targeting the group to the global level. The UN list makes it mandatory for the world body鈥檚 195 member states to take specific actions, including freezing any of the group鈥檚 assets on its territory. The listing bans arms sales or transfers to the group and prohibits member states from allowing the group鈥檚 members to enter or transfer through their territory.

US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power applauded the listing of Boko Haram by the Security Council, calling it "an important step in support of the government of Nigeria's efforts to defeat Boko Haram and hold its murderous leadership accountable for atrocities."

Mr. Obama鈥檚 decision to send troops to Chad to assist in the effort to rescue the abducted schoolgirls was welcomed by congressional leaders, although some Republican critics of the administration鈥檚 initial steps in the abduction crisis said the US is still not doing enough.

Saying 鈥淲e can do more,鈥� Rep. Ed Royce (R) of California, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, praised the White House action as 鈥渁 step in the right direction鈥� but said additional US security personnel should be directly involved in assisting and advising rescue efforts.

鈥淎nything less,鈥� Mr. Royce said, 鈥渨ould be insufficient in responding to the pressing threat that Boko Haram poses to the region and US interests.鈥�