Getting Goudoumaria right: are Boko Haram defectors reintegrating safely?

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates Niger's disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation, resettlement and reintegration (DDRRR) programme for Boko Haram defectors at the Goudoumaria reception centre. While the programme has provided an exit route for at least 375 ex-associates, the study identifies significant failures in economic reinsertion, funding instability, and the protection of women, which may discourage further defections and increase the risk of recidivism.

• The Goudoumaria reception centre, established by order on 4 February 2019, has provided socio-economic rehabilitation to at least 375 former Boko Haram associates, including 30 women.
• The first group of approximately 243 beneficiaries experienced significant delays, staying at the centre from July 2017 to December 2019. This duration led to feelings of imprisonment and evasion attempts, which authorities attributed to difficulties in raising operational finances and clarifying legal frameworks and amnesty criteria.
• Economic reintegration has been largely unsuccessful, as many ex-associates could not support themselves using the vocational training provided. Some sold their installation kits to survive, and others found that the training was not suited to the local market or that the 50,000 CFA installation allowance was insufficient.
• The programme's effectiveness has been severely hampered by funding fluctuations. The second group of 46 people had a shorter stay and fewer vocational training options (reduced from nine to six) and lacked psychosocial support. Currently, a lack of funding prevents the deployment of a programme for the third group at the centre.
• Gender-specific failures include the underestimation of women's roles within Boko Haram, with some women only able to access the programme as dependents (wives or daughters) rather than full beneficiaries. Additionally, at least one case of rape was reported despite gender separation at the centre.

APA

Abatan, J. E., & Hoinathy, R. (2021). Getting Goudoumaria right: are Boko Haram defectors reintegrating safely? Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/getting-goudoumaria-right-are-boko-haram-defectors-reintegrating-safely

Chicago

Abatan, Jeannine Ella, and Remadji Hoinathy. Getting Goudoumaria right: are Boko Haram defectors reintegrating safely? Institute for Security Studies, 2021. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/getting-goudoumaria-right-are-boko-haram-defectors-reintegrating-safely.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Abatan |first1=Jeannine Ella |last2=Hoinathy |first2=Remadji |title=Getting Goudoumaria right: are Boko Haram defectors reintegrating safely? |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=8 December 2021 |url=https://issafrica.org/iss-today/getting-goudoumaria-right-are-boko-haram-defectors-reintegrating-safely |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{abatan2021getting, author = {Abatan, Jeannine Ella and Hoinathy, Remadji}, title = {{Getting Goudoumaria right: are Boko Haram defectors reintegrating safely?}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2021}, month = dec, url = {https://issafrica.org/iss-today/getting-goudoumaria-right-are-boko-haram-defectors-reintegrating-safely}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }