PRESIDENT BUHARI’S COUNTER-TERRORISM STRATEGY AND THE DYNAMICS OF REGIONAL DIPLOMACY IN THE LAKE CHAD BENIN (2015–2023)

Abstract

The Lake Chad Basin, comprising northeastern Nigeria and neighboring areas of Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, has remained a hotspot of insecurity due to the Boko Haram insurgency and its splinter groups. This study investigates the diplomatic counter-terrorism strategies employed and by regional President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023. The centralproblem addressed is the persistent instability in the region despite intensified military operations and multilateral engagements. The objective is to evaluate Buhari’s security approach within the framework of regional cooperation and its effectiveness in mitigating insurgent threats. The research adopts a qualitative methodology, relying on secondary data including policy documents, official communications, academic literature, and regional security reports. The Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT) guides the theoretical framework, emphasizing how regional interdependence in security threats shapes collective responses among Lake Chad Basin states. Findings reveal that Buhari’s administration reinforced the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), enhanced intelligence-sharing, and pursued active diplomatic relations. However, the efforts were constrained by porous borders, humanitarian crises, underfunded military operations, and fragile civil military relations. The study concludes that while Buhari’s policies contributed to regional synergy and occasional tactical victories, long-term peace remains elusive without broader structural reforms. It is recommended that future approaches integrate sustainable development, community-based deradicalization, and stronger regional institutions to address the root causes of extremism and ensure enduring stability in the Lake Chad Basin.