https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9880-5306
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ABSTRACT
This study examines the United Nations’ counterterrorism efforts in the Lake Chad Basin (LCB), with a focus on the persistent challenges posed by the Boko Haram insurgency. Using a critical analysis approach, the research appraises the legal, policy, and empirical dimensions of the UN’s counterterrorism strategies. It delves into the evolution of terrorism in the LCB, the emergence of Boko Haram, and the socio-economic and geopolitical factors contributing to the issue. The study argues that the UN and the Multinational Joint Task Force’s (MNJTF) efforts in the LCB have experienced successes but face challenges like porous borders, weak governance, and complex geography. It contributes to the global terrorism discourse by highlighting the intricate challenges in implementing effective counterterrorism measures in a region with unique political, social, and environmental contexts. The study recommends a multi-pronged strategy that incorporates context-specific conditions, financial disruptions, and eco-security measures. It underscores the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration and sustained global commitment for achieving lasting peace and security in the LCB.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 Ani and Uwizeyimana, ‘Climate Change and Environmental Insecurity in the Lake Chad Region’; Skah and Lyammouri, ‘The Climate Change-Security Nexus’.
2 Seignobos, ‘Boko Haram and Lake Chad’.
3 Tar and Mustapha, ‘The Emerging Architecture of a Regional Security’.
4 Carlesi, ‘Understanding the Relationship between Terrorism and Climate Change’; Defontaine, ‘Boko Haram, Women, Climate Change’.
5 Zenn, Boko Haram Beyond the Headlines.
6 Achi et al., New Architecture of Regional Security in Africa, 47–50.
7 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, ‘OHCHR and Terrorism’.
8 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, ‘Human Rights, Terrorism’, 6.
9 Ibid., 6.
10 Ibid., 5.
11 Lumina, ‘Terror in the Backyard’.
12 Flemes and Lobell, ‘Contested Leadership in International Relations’.
13 Raineri, ‘Explaining the Rise of Jihadism in Africa’.
14 Badejogbin, ‘Boko Haram: An Enquiry into the Socio-Political’, 229–42.
15 Magrin and De Monteclos, Crisis and Development; Samaila, Terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin.
16 Magrin and De Monteclos, Crisis and Development.
17 Tar and Mustapha, ‘The Emerging Architecture of a Regional Security’.
18 Global Agricultural Monitoring, Lake Chad Basin: Conflict and Food Insecurity, 4.
19 Ibid., 1.
20 Owonikoko and Momodu, ‘Environmental Degradation, Livelihood, and the Stability of Chad Basin’.
21 Onapajo, ‘Why Nigeria is not winning the anti-Boko Haram War’. 53–9.
22 Adesote and Ajayi, ‘Boko Haram Insurgency’.
23 Aguwa, ‘Boko Haram: History, Ideology, and Goal’; Weeraratne, ‘Theorizing the Expansion of the Boko Haram’.
24 Defontaine, ‘Boko Haram, Women, Climate Change’.
25 Awosusi, ‘Aftermath of Boko Haram Violence’.
26 Ibid.
27 Sempijja et al., ‘Countering the Islamic State’; Griffin, ‘Lake Chad: Changing Hydrography’.
28 Seignobos, ‘Boko Haram and Lake Chad’
29 Ibid.
30 Griffin, ‘Lake Chad: Changing Hydrography’.
31 Mahmood and Ani, Responses to Boko Haram.
32 Tayimlong, ‘Fragility and Insurgency as Outcomes’, 210.
33 Enobi and Johnson-Rokosu, ‘Terrorism Financing’.
34 Comolli, ‘The Evolution and Impact of Boko Haram’.
35 Tar and Mustapha, ‘The Emerging Architecture of a Regional Security’.
36 Ibid.
37 Ross, ‘How do Natural Resources Influence Civil War?’.
38 Carlesi, ‘Understanding the Relationship between Terrorism and Climate Change’.
39 Tarif, ‘Climate Change and Violent Conflict in West Africa’.
40 Carlesi, ‘Understanding the Relationship between Terrorism’.
41 United Nations, ‘Root Causes of Boko Haram Threat’.
42 Badejogbin, ‘Boko Haram: An Enquiry into the Socio-Political’, 226.
43 United Nations Development Programme, ‘Conflict Analysis in the Lake Chad Basin’, 12–6; Amboh, The Nature of the Boko Haram Security Crisis, 47–59.
44 African Union, Regional Strategy for the Stabilization, 47-–53.
45 Sempijja et al., ‘Countering the Islamic State’; Mahmood and Ani, Responses to Boko Haram in the Lake Chad; Tar and Mustapha, ‘The Emerging Architecture of a Regional Security’.
46 United Nations Development Programme, ‘Regional Stabilization Facility’; Maza et al., ‘Challenges of Countering Terrorist Recruitment’; Cole et al., ‘Breaking Boko Haram’.
47 Sempijja et al., ‘Countering the Islamic State’.
48 Olawoyin et al., ‘The Multinational Joint Task Force’; Mahmood and Ani, Responses to Boko Haram.
49 International Crisis Group, ‘What Role for the Multinational Joint Task Force’.
50 Zabala, ‘Assessing the Effectiveness’.
51 Agbiboa and Aniekwe, Understanding and Managing Vigilante, 7–11.
52 Bamidele, ‘Creating the Deserved Protection’, 6.
53 International Crisis Group, ‘Watchmen of Lake Chad’; Agbiboa and Aniekwe, Understanding and Managing Vigilante.
54 Bamidele, ‘Creating the Deserved Protection’; Agbiboa and Aniekwe, Understanding and Managing Vigilante.
55 International Crisis Group, ‘Watchmen of Lake Chad’
56 International Crisis Group, ‘Watchmen of Lake Chad’; Agbiboa and Aniekwe, Understanding and Managing Vigilante.
57 Maza et al., ‘Challenges of Countering Terrorist Recruitment’.
58 Ibid.; TRT World, ‘Fighting Boko Haram’.
59 Olojo, Dialogue with Boko Haram Back on the Agenda; Mahmood and Ani, Responses to Boko Haram.
60 Samuel, ‘Turning Away from Terrorism’; Shafiei and Overton, ‘Peace is in the Air’.
61 UN News, Lake Chad Basin: Fighting Terrorism.
62 United Nations Security Council, Actions with Respect to Threats to the Peace.
63 UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, Basic Human Rights Reference Guide.
64 UN Security Council, Activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel.
65 United Nations, Handbook of Global South Initiative to Counter Terrorism.
66 United Nations Security Council, The Situation in Afghanistan and its Implications.
67 Jaïr van der Lijn, UN Peace Operation in Mali.
68 United Nations, Handbook of Global South Initiative to Counter Terrorism; Ibid.
69 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, ‘Supporting Legal Responses’.
70 Ibid.
71 Ibid.
72 Ibid.; United Nations Security Council - Counter-Terrorism Committee, CTED, UNOCT and UNODC Hold a Counter-Terrorism.
73 United Nations Development Programme, ‘Background Paper on Resilience’; United Nations Development Programme, ‘UNDP Guidance Note’; United Nations Development Programme, ‘Call to Action’.
74 Ibid.
75 Agbiboa and Aniekwe, Understanding and Managing Vigilante.
76 United Nations Development Programme, ‘Call to Action’; United Nations Development Programme, ‘4th Lake Chad Basin Governors Forum’.
77 United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, ‘UNREC Supports the Counter Terrorism Implementation’.
78 Ibid.
79 African Union, ‘436th Meeting of the Peace and Security Council on Boko Haram’, 2.
80 United Nations, ‘Security Council Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee Adds Boko Haram’.
81 Galeazzi et al., ‘Understanding the Lake Chad Basin Commission’, 3–5.
82 Griffin, ‘Lake Chad: Changing Hydrography’, 11.
83 Ibid.; Seignobos, ‘Boko Haram and Lake Chad’.
84 Okoli, ‘Boko Haram Insurgency and the Necessity’, 48.
85 Olowoyeye and Kanwar, ‘Water and Food Sustainability in the Riparian Countries’, 19.
86 Agbiboa, ‘Borders that continue to bother us’, 411–4.
87 Onapajo, ‘Has Nigeria defeated Boko Haram?’
88 Maza et al., ‘Challenges of Combating Terrorist Financing’.
89 Campbell, ‘Saving Lake Chad’.
90 U.S. Department of the Treasury, ‘Treasury Sanctions Six Individuals’.
91 Benedek et al., Transnational Terrorism.
92 Ibid.; Malet, Foreign Fighters: Transnational Identity.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Lukong Stella Shulika
Lukong Stella Shulika is an international affairs and political science scholar specialising in peace, conflict, and security studies, along with a focus on women's rights, representation, and leadership. She holds a PhD in Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies and is currently a research fellow at the Institute for the Future of Knowledge, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Her research portfolio includes notable contributions in the form of journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers, aimed at influencing policy and advancing Africa's Peace, Security, and Development goals as well as UNSCR 1325.
Mahtab Shafiei
Mahtab Shafiei is a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at the University of New Mexico, United States, specializing in International Relations, with a focus on Conflict Studies, Peacekeeping and Human Rights. She has conducted scholarly research on topics such as UN Peace Radio's impact on violence reduction, and UN peacekeeping in Afghanistan.