Dr. Mohamed IBN Chambas, the African Union’s Chief Mediator in Sudan, has linked insecurity in the Sahel region to critical issues such as weak governance and corruption. Speaking at the inaugural annual international lecture hosted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, Chambas asserted that a solely military approach would not resolve the complex challenges facing the area.

He emphasized that ineffective governance and corruption have created conditions that allow insecurity to thrive. The vastness of the Sahel, with many regions lacking effective government oversight, has intensified the security crisis.

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Chambas pointed to ongoing crises in Libya, Sudan, and Mali as additional destabilizing factors in the region. He noted that foreign interference and external interests have exploited the vulnerabilities present in these nations. The deterioration of the Lake Chad Basin, particularly the shrinking of Lake Chad itself, has further compounded challenges for the Sahel, underscoring the need to disrupt the financing and supply chains supporting terrorist groups. “This should be effectively addressed,” he stated.

The lecture, titled “Insecurity in the Sahel (2008-2024): Dissecting Nigeria’s Challenges – Genesis, Impacts, and Options,” aimed to explore the multifaceted issues of insecurity in the Sahel and Nigeria.

Chambas praised Nigeria’s efforts to manage the farmers/herders’ conflict, specifically noting the establishment of a livestock ministry. He also called on ECOWAS to refrain from limiting the movement of individuals from the three member states that have recently withdrawn from the organization.