Transnational Insurgency and Regional Security Challenges in the Lake Chad Basin
International Relations
- PYQs7
- Articles1
Background
Understanding the dynamics of transnational terrorism, its causes, regional impacts, and the challenges of international cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts is crucial for GS2 (International Relations). It highlights the role of state fragility, socio-economic factors, and ideological motivations in fueling such conflicts, which can have global repercussions.
Transnational insurgencies represent a significant challenge to global security, often exploiting weak governance, porous borders, and socio-economic vulnerabilities in conflict-prone regions. The Lake Chad Basin, encompassing parts of Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, has become a focal point for such challenges, marked by the rise and evolution of jihadist groups like Boko Haram and its splinter, ISWAP.
Facts & tables
- Dominant Force
- ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) has emerged as the dominant jihadist force in the Lake Chad Basin, eclipsing Boko Haram.
- Factors for Rise
- ISWAP's rise is attributed to ideological splits within Boko Haram, a more structured command, a stable revenue system (taxation), and strategic guidance from ISIS.
- Exploited Vulnerabilities
- The insurgency exploits weak governance, fragile socio-economic conditions, and porous borders among Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
- Nature of Challenge
- The conflict has transformed from a localized insurgency into a resilient transnational security challenge, necessitating regional and international counter-terrorism efforts.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | International Security |
| Conceptual area | Counter-Terrorism |
| Conceptual area | State Fragility |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) | Coordinates counter-terrorism efforts |
| U.S. African Command (AFRICOM) | Provides military and intelligence support |
| ISIS (Islamic State) | Provides ideological legitimacy and strategic guidance |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Factual recall
- ISWAP, an ISIS affiliate, dominates the Lake Chad Basin insurgency.
- Emerged from a split with Boko Haram due to ideological and leadership differences.
- Leverages weak governance, porous borders, and socio-economic fragility.
- MNJTF (Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Benin) formed for regional counter-terrorism.
- Represents a complex transnational security challenge in West Africa.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Cause and effect relationships |
| 2023 | Factual recall |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2022 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2015 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
Timeline
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International Security
Conceptual area
-
Counter-Terrorism
Conceptual area
-
State Fragility
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2015
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2022
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2023
Factual recall
-
Prelims 2024
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Cause and effect relationships
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How ISWAP emerged as the dominant jihadist force in Africa’s Lake Chad basin
The Lake Chad Basin faces a severe transnational insurgency, primarily driven by ISWAP, which capitalized on Boko Haram's internal divisions, weak regional governance, and porous borders to establish a dominant presence, posing a complex security challenge requiring coordinated international responses.
See also
No related topics linked yet.
Past papers
2015–2024 · 7 questions
In the news
How ISWAP emerged as the dominant jihadist force in Africa’s Lake Chad basin
The Lake Chad Basin faces a severe transnational insurgency, primarily driven by ISWAP, which capitalized on Boko Haram's internal divisions, weak regional governance, and porous borders to establish a dominant presence, posing a complex security challenge requiring coordinated international responses.
Try these PYQs
Consider the following pairs:
Country - Important reason for being in the news recently
1. Chad – Setting up of permanent military base by China.
2. Guinea – Suspension of Constitution and Government by military
3. Lebanon – Severe and prolonged economic depression
4. Tunisia – Suspension of Parliament by President
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
Pair 1 is incorrectly matched. China has not established any permanent military base in Chad. Pair 2 is correctly matched. Guinean special forces staged a coup, captured President Alpha Conde, replaced governors with the military, and dissolved the constitution and National Assembly. Pair 3 is correctly matched. Lebanon has been experiencing a severe and prolonged economic depression since 2019, driven by political instability, inadequate reforms, and systemic corruption. The economic crisis has affected approximately 74% of the population. Pair 4 is correctly matched. Tunisian President Kais Saied dissolved the suspended parliament after lawmakers held an online meeting and voted to repeal presidential decrees. He called it a failed coup attempt.
In the recent years Chad, Guinea, Mali and Sudan caught the international attention for which one of the following reasons common to all of them?
* Successful Coups There have been several military coups in these countries in recent years - Chad (2021) - Guinea (2021) - Mali (2020, 2021) - Sudan (2019) * Military coups often lead to political instability, international concern about human rights, and potential disruption to trade and regional security.
Consider the following pairs :
Country | Reason for being in the news|
|- | -|
|1. Argentina | Worst economic crisis|
|2. Sudan | War between the country's regular army and paramilitary forces|
|3. Turkey | Rescinded its membership of NATO|
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
* Argentina - Worst economic crisis: Correct. Argentina has been facing a severe economic crisis for a while, marked by high inflation, debt, and poverty. * Sudan - War between the country's regular army and paramilitary forces: Correct. Sudan has been engulfed in a violent conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. * Turkey - Rescinded its membership of NATO: Incorrect. Turkey has not rescinded its membership of NATO. While there have been tensions between Turkey and other NATO members, it remains a member. _Therefore, only two out of the three pairs are correctly matched._
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its people from fleeing/emigrating to other countries.
Statement-II: Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Statement-I: Incorrect. Venezuela continues to suffer from a severe economic crisis marked by hyperinflation, shortages of basic goods, and political instability. This crisis has led to a massive exodus of Venezuelans seeking better living conditions in neighboring countries and beyond. Statement-II: Correct. Venezuela indeed possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, surpassing even Saudi Arabia. However, despite this vast resource wealth, economic mismanagement, corruption, and international sanctions have crippled its oil industry and hindered its ability to leverage this asset for economic recovery.
With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, Consider the following statements:
1. It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills
2. It is an alliance meant for maritime security only
Which of the following statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. IOR-ARC is a regional cooperation initiative of the Indian Ocean Rim countries. It was established in Mauritius in March 1997 with the aim of promoting economic and technical cooperation. IOR-ARC is the only pan-Indian ocean grouping. It brings together countries from three continents having different sizes, economic strengths, and a wide diversity of languages, cultures. Statement 2 is incorrect. It aims to create a platform for trade, socio-economic and cultural cooperation in the Indian Ocean rim area. The Indian Ocean Rim is rich in strategic and precious minerals, metals and other natural resources, marine resources and energy, all of which can be sourced from Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ), continental shelves and the deep seabed.
Show 2 more PYQs
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I : There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region.
Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
* Statement-I: There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. This statement is correct as the Sahel region has been experiencing significant instability and security challenges, including terrorism, armed conflict, and humanitarian crises. * Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past. This statement is also correct. Several countries in the Sahel region, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad, have experienced military coups in recent years. * Statement-II explains Statement-I because the military takeovers and coups contribute to the instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. The political instability resulting from these coups disrupts governance, exacerbates conflict, and undermines efforts to address security and development challenges in the region.
Consider the following statements:
1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north -western Kenya.
2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war live in Bidibidi.
3. Some people who fled from civil war in Somalia live in Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is Incorrect: Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in northwestern Uganda, not Kenya. Statement 2 is Correct: People fleeing the civil war in South Sudan have been hosted in the Bidibidi settlement. Statement 3 is Correct: The Dadaab refugee complex is located in Kenya and houses refugees, including those who fled the civil war in Somalia. Therefore, the correct statements are 2 and 3 only.