Paper short abstract:

The Chadian government has adopted a strong military response against Boko Haram and let the humanitarians cover civil populations’ needs. Security issues in the Lake Chad region constitutes only one factor among others to reach a holistic comprehension of this multidimensional crisis.

Paper long abstract:

Since February 2015, Chad has lead the regional military response against Boko Haram. Several incursions of Boko Haram in Cameroon in 2014 and its strong presence in the Borno state in Nigeria have led neighboring countries to contain the threats on their own national territory and interests. Chad was concerned not only because of the security risks but also for the economic impact. Repetitive attacks in Northern Cameroon have represented a direct menace on the commercial road from N'Djamena to Douala, the major harbor for the Chadian import-export.

After a strategy of aerial bombardments in Nigeria, the Chadian National Army has deployed ground troops in the Lake Chad region to prevent and stop terrorists' infiltrations through this border area. To create this new "war zone", the government had to evacuate civil population from their villages. Basically, the Chadian government let humanitarian actors take charge of the impact of the conflict on internal displaced people, Chadian returnees from Nigeria, refugees, and host communities.

Buduma ethnic group present in the Lake region is considered with suspicion by the Chadian authorities because of supposed social links with Boko Haram members. Surrenders occurred in November/December 2016 also created new challenges for militaries and humanitarians.

The current crisis is considered in Chad as multidimensional, insofar as the security risk due to Boko Haram has been the last straw that broke the camel's bag, in a context of chronical food and nutrition insecurity, environmental degradation, agro-pastoral tensions, deficit of basic services and lack of sustainable livelihoods.