the States of Lake Chad Basin Confront Insecurity

This book analyses the evolution of inter-state relations in the Lake Chad Basin in the face of the threat posed by Boko Haram. It examines the tension between the principle of state sovereignty and the need to strengthen regional cooperation in the face of a transnational threat. Boko Haram's expansion beyond Nigeria, notably into Cameroon, Niger and Chad, has revealed the limitations of national strategies and made the pooling of security capabilities essential. The Lake Chad Basin Commission and the Multinational Joint Task Force are thus key instruments of this cooperation. The book also examines the political, economic and social factors fuelling insecurity, whilst emphasising the importance of human security and the involvement of local communities. The analysis highlights an ambivalent stance on the part of the states: whilst preserving their sovereignty and autonomy, they are gradually agreeing to coordinate their actions and share their resources. Boko Haram thus paradoxically appears to be a factor bringing the states of the Lake Chad Basin closer together and transforming their practices of security cooperation.