Counterterrorism Activities in the Lake Chad Basin: Challenges of Effectiveness

The proliferation of Islamist organizations has become an integral aspect of the evolving global order and a significant factor in shaping Africa’s political development. Islamist groups increasingly adapt their combat tactics and strategies, forging alliances with foreign extremist organizations. This shift transforms intrastate conflicts into transnational ones, exacerbating challenges for African governments and compelling them to develop new frameworks for security cooperation. Over time, states across the continent have come to perceive the rise of radical Islamism as a threat to peace and stability across Africa as a whole, rather than to individual conflict-affected nations. This recognition has spurred the creation of numerous ad hoc security initiatives, joint military operations, and multinational military structures aimed at countering terrorism. Examples include the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), which participated in resolving armed conflicts in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, and Côte d’Ivoire; the Regional Operational Task Force to combat the Lord’s Resistance Army; the G5 Sahel; and others. This article examines the activities of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), established in the mid-2010s to counter Islamist groups in the Lake Chad Basin.

Lake Chad Basin, Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), radical Islam, conflicts, counterterrorism activities, international relations