Community cohabitation around Lake Chad

One of the major challenges in the Lac region of Chad concerns how best to ensure peaceful cohabitation between several neighbouring communities. There are four key groups of people:

• Nigerian refugees who have fled towns and villages in Nigeria because of the conflict there.
• Returnees – Chadian migrants who left for Nigeria but have now returned.
• Displaced people – Chadians who have left their villages because of the threat from Boko Haram and have moved towards more urbanised areas.
• Local communities – who are absorbing the other three types of people.

At the root of their difficulties in living together is the big hit in economic activity which the region has suffered. Trade with Nigeria has become extremely difficult. Nomads and herders can no longer go to Nigeria with their cattle, and traders can’t import goods from across the border. Fishing on Lake Chad has been banned for security reasons. As such, local populations – whose three principal activities are raising livestock, trading, and fishing – have been left with few ways to pursue their livelihoods.

It is in this context that local inhabitants have seen waves of new arrivals. Unfortunately, their daily struggles have made relations difficult. Local people have complained that the new communities have caused problems, and will create shortages.

In particular, they claim three things:

• That the new arrivals have led to difficulties over shared resources, including pasture for livestock, land to cultivate and firewood.
• There is a climate of suspicion around the new arrivals, because they are not sure exactly who they are. This has led to questions surrounding their status: are there members of Boko Haram among them? Are there informers?
• Another source of worry is the humanitarian assistance which is primarily provided to refugees, returnees and displaced people by international NGOs and the UN. This is sometimes viewed badly by local groups, even though they also receive some assistance.

Although this is a broad analysis, it is instructive to reflect on the internal dynamics which lead to such conflicts. When poverty, inactivity, economic need and a lack of trust come together, small but key events can poison communities and worsen latent tensions. This means it is key to reflect on these actions and the ways in which these latent situations can be anticipated.

NGOs, local associations and organisations need to reflect on what work can be done to develop this fragile cohabitation. The public authorities are generally more inclined to response work than prevention, which is why action in anticipation would be useful. The first step is to identify the type of work and the relevant people who could undertake it. Based on the situations described and on the importance of tradition and religion, some of the principal community leaders who could be involved include imams and religious teachers, traditional authorities including heads of villages, cantons and ferricks (nomadic camps), and representatives of youth and other organisations.

Working with these leaders would help develop a shared recognition of the mutual need for peace, and could include training and awareness-raising activities as well as the development of a peaceful conflict resolution committee, bringing together members from each community.

This is not an exhaustive list. Once these actors have been identified and activities have been started, it would be beneficial to raise awareness of these issues among all the different populations involved, through or with their respective leaders. It would also be helpful to use this work to identify other people and activities who might become involved.