The evolution and impact of Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin in a Multipolar world.

Abstract

The Boko Haram insurgency is a security threat to the countries of the Lake Chad Basin Region made up of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. This article portrays an analysis on the origin and regionalization of Boko Haram. More importantly, this study also attempts to highlight the pivotal role that cooperation with friendly external partners (such as Russia, and China) can play in the fight against terrorist groups such as Boko Haram in Africa. Our analysis argues that, Boko Haram's terrorism in the Lake Chad region is driven by the combination of overlapping and self-complementing factors like political and economic interests, rather than religion, with implications for security and counterterrorism efforts. In the the end, recommendations were suggested on how to overcome this terrorist organisation. This article utilizes a combination of social conflict theory and terrorism studies to analyze the origins and impact of Boko Haram. Social conflict theory helps to explain how economic inequality and political instability can contribute to the rise of extremist groups like Boko Haram. Terrorism studies provide insight into the tactics and strategies used by Boko Haram to achieve their goals. This article employs a multidisciplinary approach, drawing on a range of primary and secondary sources, including academic literature, government reports, and media sources. The methodology includes qualitative analysis of historical and contemporary data to provide insights into the origins and evolution of the Boko Haram activities, as well as the impact it has had on the affected communities and the countries of the Lake Chad Basin Region. This analysis gave the opportunity to suggest recommendations on how to overcome the Boko Haram and terrorism in Africa in general.