Lake Chad Basin leaders address environmental decay and regional terrorism

Leaders and regional officials are addressing a multifaceted crisis in the Lake Chad Basin involving environmental degradation and persistent terrorism. President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has called for the urgent recharging of Lake Chad, noting that the lake has lost over 90% of its original size, affecting more than 30 million people. He suggested transferring water from the Congo Basin to restore farming, fishing, and animal husbandry, which could also help reduce irregular migration.

On the security front, Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno and regional officials are focusing on the resilience of insurgent groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP). While acknowledging the unprecedented resilience of these groups, President Itno expressed optimism that new leadership and strategies within the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) will lead to their eradication.

However, challenges remain for the MNJTF, including inadequate resources, equipment, and manpower. Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni highlighted that the withdrawal of Niger Republic from the task force has further undermined operational effectiveness. Regional leaders emphasized the need for stronger political coordination and institutional partnerships to combat insecurity, displacement, and economic vulnerability across the basin.