IOM, Lake Chad Basin Commission Seal Pact to Deepen Peace, Recovery Efforts

IOM, Lake Chad Basin Commission Seal Pact to Deepen Peace, Recovery Efforts

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

In a renewed push to restore stability in the troubled Lake Chad region, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in peacebuilding, displacement management and long-term recovery.

The agreement was formalised in N’Djamena, bringing fresh momentum to joint efforts across countries affected by years of insurgencies and humanitarian crises, including Chad, Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon.

According to IOM, the new partnership provides a structured framework for both organisations to collaborate more closely under the Regional Strategy for Stabilisation, Recovery and Resilience (RSSRR) for areas impacted by Boko Haram violence in the Lake Chad Basin.

Speaking of development, IOM Regional Director Sylvia Ekra described the MoU as a significant step toward promoting lasting peace, security and sustainable development in the region.

“The agreement will enhance coordinated actions aimed at achieving durable solutions for displaced persons, promoting socio-economic recovery, strengthening governance, and fostering regional cooperation,” she said.

Ekra acknowledged that while the Lake Chad Basin is frequently portrayed as a zone of conflict and mass displacement, it also holds enormous potential for cooperation and shared prosperity across West and Central Africa.

She noted that the renewed partnership would improve alignment between regional strategies and operational activities on the ground. By combining reliable data, political will and coordinated interventions, she said, both institutions aim to reinforce frameworks that promote stability, safe mobility, and long-term resilience.

The Lake Chad crisis remains one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies. Years of violent conflict, compounded by climate change and environmental degradation, have forced millions from their homes. By December 2025, food shortages and shrinking livelihoods have left more than 6.4 million people displaced or otherwise affected.

Ekra stressed the need for sustained investment that combines humanitarian response, development planning, and peacebuilding initiatives to address urgent needs while laying the foundation for lasting solutions.

Under the agreement, IOM and LCBC will deepen cooperation at both strategic and operational levels. The collaboration will support evidence-based policymaking on human mobility, enhance cross-border coordination, assist in the implementation of territorial action plans, and promote climate-resilient economic initiatives across the basin.

In his remarks, LCBC Executive Secretary Ambassador Mamman Nuhu expressed appreciation to IOM for the strengthened partnership, noting that the collaboration would help tackle displacement challenges and improve the safety and security of lives and property throughout the region.

The new accord signals a shared determination by both organisations to transform the Lake Chad Basin from a symbol of crisis to a model of recovery, resilience, and regional solidarity.