The reintegration enigma

The report examines the phenomenon of Boko Haram members deserting the group in the Lake Chad Basin, identifying push factors such as military losses by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and internal factional rivalry between Shekau and al-Barnawi. It argues that current interventions—limited to detention, judicial processing, and narrow de-radicalisation—are insufficient. The author advocates for a 'third generation' of context-sensitive DDRR that integrates security and development, emphasizing the need for gender- and age-sensitive eligibility criteria to include women and children. The report also highlights the necessity of demobilising community vigilante groups and improving state-community relations to undermine recruitment. It recommends that the Lake Chad Basin Commission lead a regional strategic framework supported by the African Union to harmonise DDRR approaches across Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria.

• Military successes by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and internal conflict between the Shekau and al-Barnawi factions have driven waves of Boko Haram members to desert.
• Individual push factors for desertion include disillusionment over unfulfilled economic promises and the fear of death in combat.
• Current interventions are too narrow, focusing heavily on de-radicalisation, which is problematic because not all deserters are radicalised and the level of radicalisation is difficult to measure.
• There is a need for gender- and age-sensitive DDRR programming to account for women and children, including those born to Boko Haram spouses, to maintain family integrity and reduce stigma.
• Community vigilante groups, while providing security, may contest state authority or be complicit in human rights violations, necessitating their own demobilisation track.
• The lack of a coordinated regional approach has led to discrepancies in how deserters are treated across different countries, with Niger being the only one currently using a systematic sorting process.
• Improving the utility and legitimacy of the state in peripheral areas is essential to undermine Boko Haram's recruitment strategy and build trust with communities.

APA

Akum, F. (2018). The reintegration enigma. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/car13.pdf

Chicago

Akum, Fonteh. The reintegration enigma. Institute for Security Studies, 2018. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/car13.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Akum |first1=Fonteh |title=The reintegration enigma |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=October 2018 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/car13.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{akum2018reintegration, author = {Akum, Fonteh}, title = {{The reintegration enigma}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2018}, month = oct, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/car13.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }