On 26 October 2024, a donors’ meeting was held at the headquarters of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to mobilize funds and to take humanitarian action for the displaced and refugee people across the Lake Chad basin and Sahel regions. The Sahel and the Lake Chad basin region are grappling with violence, extremism, environmental degradation, and deep-seated poverty, which needs global attention. However, ongoing wars/conflicts in Europe (Russia-Ukraine War), Asia (Israel-Axis of Resistance War) and Africa (between Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces in Sudan) have diverted the world’s attention. The article tries to explain the reason behind the crisis and the effects of it on the people and the region in order to bring the world’s attention to the Lake Chad region. At last, the article suggests some viable solutions to the situation.
Geography and Climate Change
Lake Chad basin is located in the Northern centre of Africa, close to the Sahel region. If people see the geographical map, they find that the Lake Chad basin position is in between four countries, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon. It links West Africa of Central Africa through Nigeria, West Africa to East Africa and North Africa through Chad. The lake provides livelihood to approximately 30 million people in the region. In the 1960s, the total area covered by Lake Chad was 26000 sq km. However, in the last six decades, it has shrunk by 90 percent. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has called the situation an “ecological catastrophe” and predicts that the lake could disappear by the end of the century. Gilles Fagninou, UNICEF’s regional director for West and Central Africa, described the situation. “This is one of the most severe humanitarian crises we face, yet it receives far less attention than others,” Fagninou said. “Millions of women, children, and families are trapped in a cycle of suffering that the world seems to have forgotten.”
Image Courtesy: grida.no and NASA
Climate change and unsustainable use of water have caused a devastating impact on the Lake Chad basin which has severely undermined local economies, particularly in fishing and agriculture, while desertification is forcing nomadic herders and farmers into direct competition over dwindling resources. The people’s livelihoods are collapsing, and displaced populations are struggling to find even the most basic resources, such as water and food. Erratic weather patterns, including droughts and floods, have further worsened the situation, making agricultural production increasingly unreliable. Lake Chad particularly, the Sahel region generally, is now seeing the expansion of arid lands, driving migration and intensifying conflicts over resources.
Ethnicity, Porous Borders and Terrorism
The region has several ethnic groups within the Lake Chad basin cut across multiple states and nations. The region’s vegetation is dominated by the Sahel (Semi-Arid) and Savannahs. This means an open terrain of vast grasslands that enables ethno-economic activities and relatively easy contact among groups. The degrading agricultural outputs and loss of employment have brought extremist and terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS West African Province (ISWAP) into the region. The interplay between violence, resource scarcity, and environmental degradation is overwhelming communities.
Lack of resources, employment and food due to environmental degradation has definitely introduced violence and made the region vulnerable to terrorism. However, the porous borders between the four countries, Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon, have helped transnational ethnicities and commercial activity and criminal dealers to operate freely and without constraints, which made Illicit trade in weapons and drugs thrive. The Central African Republic is a major transit hub for armaments that reach the continent via the Somalia corridor. These have resulted in terror organizations that began in northeastern Nigeria and spread throughout the area, seeking safe havens to operate. They profit from illegal trade while leveraging ethnic relationships to secure protection from government authorities fighting them.
The convergence of multi-borders in the region invites more terrorist groups. Extremists travel borders at will to carry out attacks, achieving their goal of posing composite dangers to states. The known active factions are Boko Haram and the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP). Previously, they had handily struck northern Nigeria, south-west Niger, northern Cameroon, and south-east Chad. The gangs remain powerful despite being attacked by regional troops in recent years. These incendiary operations have caused a refugee crisis and disruption of economic activities, undermining social life and lawful cross-border trade in the region. This is not good for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Chad’s capital is also located in the basin.
Hunger and Migration
The fallout of these weather extremes, along with rising armed conflict and economic and other shocks, have hit surrounding populations hard, deepening hunger and malnutrition and forcing many to flee their homes in search of safer, more promising places. With over 3 million internally displaced people in Nigeria alone, and millions more in Chad, Niger, and Burkina Faso, the region’s humanitarian needs are enormous. Food security is a top priority. According to UNICEF, 13 million people are at urgent risk of malnutrition, with children particularly vulnerable. After talking about the problems and the reasons, the article must address a way forward and a tentative solution for the situation. The meeting in Jeddah was not only to address these above-mentioned crises but also to bring international organizations, states, and NGOs to their attention.
A multi pronged approach – Local, Regional and International
The possible solution to this complex crisis in the Lake Chad basin may only be fixed through multiple actions. The location, ethno-economic, and security significance of the Lake Chad basin make it vulnerable and a local, regional, and global concern. The solution may also be brought to local, regional, and global levels.
Locally, governments and local NGOs can work together to educate people about the region’s importance and spread awareness about the sustainable use of water from the Lake. The dams built on the streams in the area should release water at regular intervals to maintain more than the minimum water requirement in the basin.
Regionally, Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon should work together to guard their porous borders and guard the area to stop the crossing of extremists/terrorists from one border to another. A joint force from all the bordering countries can work to stop illicit trade and trafficking of arms.
Internationally, international communities, through INGOs, such as the International Crisis Group, the International Rescue Committee and Action Against Hunger, and international organizations, such as United Nations agencies, can help raise funds and deliver the required materials to the displaced and hungry people. Humanitarian organizations, such as Doctors Without Borders and International Medical Corps, can help stop the spread of disease and provide treatment to the people. However, these international relief and solutions can only be delivered after constructive involvement and donations from major and great powers such as the US, Russia and China.
