In search of sustainable solution to Lake Chad Basin challenges

The recent gathering of eight governors from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic to discuss issues surrounding the Lake Chad Basin is not only commendable, it is a much-needed collaborative attempt at solving multifarious problems posing joint threat to the prosperity and continued cohabitation of communities around the Chad basin.

It is particularly significant considering the political disagreements that have split the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), over which three countries, including Niger Republic have pulled out of the union. Niger has suspended its participation in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), while Chad has threatened to withdraw too. The governors, however, have their job cut out for them because their holistic problems are clear and identifiable. What they need is to go beyond talks and exert concerted efforts to make their dream of restoring the glory of the Lake Chad Basin come true.

According to reports, approximately 11 million people in the region need humanitarian assistance, with millions facing acute food insecurity due to climate impacts and conflict.

Around 2.3 million people have been displaced by the ongoing violence in the region, particularly from groups like Boko Haram, the Islamic States of West African Province (ISWAP) and others, thereby worsening the humanitarian situation and stalling development, including education, in all ramifications.

The governors, comprising Abate Edi’i Jean, Governor, North Region of Cameroon; Brig-Gen. Mahamadou Ibrahim Bagadoma, Governor of the Diffa Region, Niger Republic; Ildjima Abdraman of Hadjer Lamis Region, Chad Republic; Midjiyawa Bakari of the Far North Region, Cameroon; and Gen. Saleh Haggar Tidjani of the Province of Lac, Chad met in Maiduguri, Borno State Nigeria to forge a new pathway to resolving the myriad of challenges in Lake Chad Basin. The occasion was the 5th Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum that was hosted in Maiduguri by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State.

They represent the four countries surrounding the Chad Basin—Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria and Chad— and they aim to collaborate on the basin’s management primarily through the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), which was established in 1964. This commission aims to promote sustainable development and integrated water resource management in the region

The stakeholders’ lofty ideals aimed to address pressing issues that have distorted the growth of the communities within the region. The meeting focused on sustainable solutions to promote security, peace and development in the region. These are factors prevalent, indeed taken for granted in the region, until some years back when desertification and expansionist ambition of terrorist groups caused a massive reversal.

The week-long event had an appropriate theme of ‘Rebuilding the Lake Chad Basin: Consolidating Gains, Commitment to Peace, Cross-Border Cooperation, Security, and Sustainable Development for a Resilient Community’. It provided space for humanitarian development and peace actors as well as donors and security actors to engage directly to define plans for stabilising and guiding efforts to support the recovery and long-term development in the region.

The Basin is the largest endothecia basin in Africa, centred around Lake Chad, and spans approximately 2,434,000 square kilometers (about 940,000 square miles), covering nearly eight per cent of the African continent. This basin is unique as it has no outlet to the sea, leading to significant water management challenges due to climate change, irrigation demands, and reduced rainfall, resulting in the shrinking of Lake Chad.

The countries have four key collaborative efforts set up to address issues regarding the Basin with different roles assigned to them. They are the LCBC, charged with coordinating water resource management among member states, providing policy advice and facilitating dialogue to resolve conflicts over shared resources. It also engages in transboundary water management initiatives to maximise socio-economic benefits for the region.

There is the Regional Strategy for Stabilisation, Recovery and Resilience (RS-SRR), meant to address the multifaceted crises impacting the basin, including climate change and security challenges posed by groups like Boko Haram. The RS-SRR emphasises regional cooperation to foster peace and sustainable development.

The Governors’ Forum serves as a platform for local leaders to share best practices, identify cross-border interventions, and coordinate efforts to address common challenges in the affected territories. The Governors’ Forum enhances collaboration among the territories impacted by violence and instability, and the Knowledge and Monitoring Platform seeks to improve data collection and monitoring across the basin, facilitating better understanding of socio-economic conditions and enhancing cross-border collaboration.

If the platforms work well, they should find solutions to critical issues such as food security and climate resilience in the face of regional challenges. Finding answers to tackle armed groups, foster transitional justice, and promote reintegration to enhance social cohesion must be prioritised. Insurgency has displaced thousands, and their operation has hindered humanitarian efforts in the region.

The Chad basin environment is degrading fast, a very pressing issue that needs to be resolved, with the lake’s water level shrinking significantly due to climate change, drought, and human activities. This has led to food insecurity, malnutrition, and increased competition for resources. To address the challenges of high levels of food insecurity, malnutrition, and displacement, regional cooperation and international support are crucial.

Durable solutions are urgently needed for displaced populations, ensuring stability for IDPs and refugees that have become the reality of those within the region.

Importantly, the Lake Chad Basin is home to over 30 ethnic groups with their unique cultural practices, languages, and traditions. The region has a rich history, with ancient empires like the Kanem-Bornu Empire and the Hausa Kingdoms once flourishing in the area. It has long been a hub for cultural exchange, with trade and migration facilitating the exchange of ideas, languages, and customs.

The consequence of insecurity, conflicts, and environmental degradation is high poverty rates, which makes manpower recruitment for the terrorist organisations very easy. The region is also prone to diseases like malaria and cholera due to poor sanitation conditions exacerbated by displacement.

Despite the numerous challenges, the Lake Chad Basin has numerous merits that make it a vital region. It is a significant agricultural producer, with crops like cotton, wheat, and rice being major exports. The lake’s fisheries provide a crucial source of income and protein for local communities. The region is home to significant livestock populations, with cattle, sheep, and goats being important commodities. It has proven oil and gas reserves, with Nigeria, Chad, and Cameroon being major producers.

Local communities in the Lake Chad Basin have demonstrated remarkable resilience, adapting to changing circumstances and finding innovative ways to cope with seemingly intractable adversity. These challenges, however, require coordinated and actionable efforts from the governments of Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger, along with support from international organisations, to implement sustainable development strategies and make the region flourish.