The effect of regional cooperatin on the development and security of border areas (Case study: Boko Haram in the Nigerian-Cameroon border region)

Document Type : مقالات علمی -پژوهشی

Authors

• majid rasouli ¹
• ahmad bakhshi ²

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Geopolitics, Center for African Studies, Tarbiat Modares University,

² Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Humanities, Birjand University, Birjand, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/pg.2022.70590.1050

Abstract

In recent years, the emergence and complex connections of terrorist groups in Africa have become a growing concern at the national, regional , and even international levels. In this regard, these groups often reinforce conflicts and instability between border countries based on religious, political ,or economic motives, gaining power, territory , and control of innocent people. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of the Boko Haram terrorist group on the development and security of the Nigerian-Cameroon border region in answering the question: What are the factors affecting the destabilizing activities and security threats in the Boko Haram region along the Cameroon-Nigeria border in West Africa? The present study, which has a descriptive-analytical nature and the required data and information collected in a library method in the form of the postcolonial theory of border studies, is based on the hypothesis that Boko Haram can take advantage of factors and areas such as marginalization. Poverty, corruption, injustice, the failure of the federal government, and permeable borders to exert control and power over the region impose a very extremist approach to Islam in parts of northern Cameroon, Nigeria, southern Chad, and Niger. The results showed that benefiting from the strategy of cooperation and concluding defense agreements between border countries while strengthening regional security and supporting fragile economic bases can be effective in deterring and reducing future attacks and terrorists so that governments have border states. They must commit to strategic cooperation treaties and establish long-term border security arrangements to curb the expansionist plans of groups such as Boko Haram.

Keywords

• Theory of regional convergence
• Regional Security
• Boko Haram
• Nigeria-Cameroon Border Development

References

1. Aghedo, I., & Osumah, O. (2012). The Boko Haram uprising: How should Nigeria respond? Third World            Quarterly, 33(5),         853-869.          Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01436597.2012.674701
2. Ali Babaei, Gh. (2003), Political Culture, Ashian Publishing[In Persian]
3. Amabo, E. (2021). Cameroon- Nigeria: Strategic Security Partners. Availiable at: https://www.cameroon-tribune.cm/article.html/39987/fr.html/cameroon-nigeria-strategic.
4. Bakhshi, A. (2017). The Role of Trade Liberalization and Regional Economic Cooperation in Development and Security: A Case Study of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Quarterly Journal of Political Geography Research, 2(4), 86-  116[In Persian]
5. Bakhshi, A. (2011). Analysis of Geographical and Political Phenomena in the Formation of the Darfur Crisis. Geopolitical Quarterly, 7(2), 252-215. [In Persian]
6. Bakhshi, A. (2009). A Framework for Developing Human Security in West Asia, in Human Security in West Asia. (Collection of Articles). Tehran: Research Institute for Cultural and Social Studies. [In Persian]
7. Bala, B., & Usman A. Tar (2021). Regional Cooperation in West Africa: Counter Terrorism and Counter insurgency. African Security, DOI:10.1080/19392206.2021.1929747
8. Basiri, M. & Aga Mohammadi, Z. (2017). Future Studies of the Middle East over the Next Three Decades; Analysis of the Trends of Fight against Terrorism at the International Level. Quarterly Journal of Political and International Research, 9(31), 87-116. [In Persian]
9. (2014, August 18). Cmr orders security agents to hide information from Nigeria. Retrieved from:https://www.cameroonweb.com/ CameroonHomePage/ NewsArchive/ Cmr-orders-security- agents-to-hide information-from-Nigeria-309231
10. Campbell, J. (2013). Africa in transition: Boko Haram recruitment strategies. Washington D.C.: Council on Foreign Relations
11. Chimtom, M. (2013, September 18). Nigerians uncertain of future in Bakassi Peninsula. Inter Press Service. Retrieved from http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/09/nigerians-uncertain-of- future-in-bakassi-peninsula/
12. Deriysdel, A., & Belik, G. (1995). Political Geography of the Middle East and North Africa. (Mir Haider. D., trans.).Tehran: Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [In Persian]
13. Dorrie, P. (2014, August 28). Boko Haram’s Cameroon connection. War is Boring. Retrieved from https://medium.com/war-is-boring/boko-harams-cameroon-connection- c7d3edf1c939
14. Etaat, J. & Mousavi, Z. (2008). Country Divisions and Sustainable Development: A Case Study of Iran. Geopolitical Quarterly, 4(3), 74-57. [In Persian]
15. Ezirin, G.E. & Onuoha, F.C. (2013). Terrorism and transnational organized crime in West Africa. Al Jazeera Center for Studies. Retrieved from http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/reports/2013/06/2013624102946689517.html
16. Foster-Bowser, E., & Sanders, A. (2012). Security threats in the Sahel and beyond: AQUIM, Boko Haram, and al Shabaab. Civil-Military Fusion Center. Retrieved from cimicweb.org
17. Ghanbari, S., & Motalebi, M. (2017). Trends in Countering Terrorism in the Middle East and the International Arena. Quarterly Journal of Police Studies, 7(30), 168-147. [In Persian]
18. Ghawam, A.A. (2019). International Relations: Theories and Approaches.Tehran:  SAMT Publications. [In Persian]
19. Global Terrorism index  (2020). availiable at: https://www.visionofhumanity.org /wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GTI-2020-Briefing.pdf
20. Hafeznia, M & Vaysi, H. (2011). The Impact of Globalization on Borders (Review and Critique of Border Denial Votes). Journal of Planning &Space Planning, 15(3), 41-59. [In Persian]
21. Hafeznia, M.R., AhmadiPour, Z., & Ghaderi Hajat, M. (2011). Politics and Space. Mashhad: Papoli Publications[In Persian]
22. Hafeznia, M.R. (2000). Fundamentals of Socio-Political Studies. Qom: Publication of the Almostafa University. [In Persian]
23. Hemmati, L., Hosseini, S.M., & Mahdavipour, A. (2020). Preventive approaches in curbing terrorism. Criminal Law Research, 8(30), 258-231. [In Persian]
24. Konings, P. (2005). The Anglophone Cameroon-Nigeria boundary: Opportunities and conflicts.African Affairs, 104(415), 275-301.
25. Mahmood, O., & Ani, C. (2018). Responses to Boko Haram in  the Lake Chad Region:  Policies, Cooperation and Livelihoods , ISS Research report availaiabie at: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/2018-07-06-research-report-1.pdf
26. Mickolus, E.F., Sandler, T., & Murdock, J. M. (1989). International terrorism in the 1980s: A chronology of events. Iowa State University Press.
27. Mir Haider, D. (2004). Fundamentals of Political Geography. Tehran: SAMT. [In Persian]
28. National Geoghraphy(2021), Border, Retrieved from : https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/border/
29. Moshirzadeh, H.(2020). Evolution in theories of international relations. SAMT Publications. [In Persian]
30. Newman, D. (2006). Border and bordering: Towards an interdisciplinary dialogue. European Journal of Social Theory, 9(2), 171-86
31. Piazza, James A. (2008). Incubators of terror: Do failed and failing states promote transnational terrorism? International Studies Quarterly 52(3): 469–488.
32. Rasouli, M., & Shariati, Sh. (2020). Geopolitical Analysis of Boko Haram Terrorism Threat in West Africa. Geopolitical Quarterly, 16(59), 228-203[In Persian]
33. Soliemanpour, H. & Pak jami, D. (2009). The role of multi literalism and Regional trades Orders in Developing of trades of Islamic republic of iran. Centeral EuroAsia Quarterly, 2(3), 77-96. [In Persian]
34. Spencer, A. (2006). Questioning the Concept of New Terrorism. Peace Conflict & Development, Issue 8, 1-9.
35. Tayyeb, A. (2001). Critical evaluation in the field of international security. Tehran: Ney Publishing. [In Persian]
36. Trif, Terry et al. (2004). New Security Studies. (A., Tayeb and V., Bozorgi, Trans.). Tehran: Research Institute for Strategic Studies.
37. Umukoro, N. (2014). Democracy and inequality in Nigeria. Journal of Developing Societies, 30(1), 1-24.
38. United            (2017). Sanctions         list        materials.         Retrieved         from https://www.un.org/sc/suborg/en/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list         
39. United Nation News(2008). Ban: Nigeria-Cameroon peninsula transfer exemplifies ‘good neighbourliness’ availiable at: https://news.un.org/en/story/2008/08/269542-ban-nigeria-cameroon-peninsula-transfer-exemplifies-good-neighbourliness
40. World Data atlas, (2021). Nigeria - Gross domestic product per capita in current prices, Availiable at: https://knoema.com/atlas/Nigeria/GDP-per-capita
41. Zarneshan, Sh. (2007). Security Council and the Commitments of Governments to Combat Terrorism. Legal Journal of the Presidential Institution, No. 36, 57-94[In Persian]
42. Zenn, J. (2014). Boko Haram: Recruiting, financing, and arms trafficking in the Lake Chad Region, Quarterly Journal of Connnection, 7(10), 1-17.