Events

This event, which is jointly organised by Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (bicc) and the Regional Center of Excellence, National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), in close collaboration with core project partners, the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office (PBPSO), will engage key decision-makers across all levels of governance.

By bringing together researchers, government officials, policymakers, and lawmakers, the roundtable will translate research insights into actionable, evidence-based policy solutions. It serves as a knowledge-sharing plattform where researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders involved in peacebuilding interventions in Nigeria will interact, build consensus, and develop strategic partnerships to strengthen community resilience against the growing influence of jihadist groups in the two regions. 

In summary, the roundtable discussion will focus on community collaboration with armed groups, the roles of informants, and other forms of support to armed groups, recruitment and governance strategies and pathways for disengagement and reintegration of low-risk associates back into the communities. The discussions will also examine the state and non-state security responses to improve current civilian protection and Early Warning systems in border communities. At the same time, it will explore strategies for aligning federal strategic frameworks with state-level implementation to ensure effectiveness and adherence to global best practices.

Discussions are expected to benefit significantly from the lessons learned in Northeast Nigeria, particularly regarding effective strategies for enhancing community protection and security. Additionally, the event will highlight existing good practices drawn from ongoing efforts to combat the Boko Haram insurgency, offering valuable insights for future policy and intervention design.Equally, recommendations from the roundtable may benefit the ongoing efforts by AU and partners in the development of a continental strategy/guidelines on Non-State Armed Groups (NSAG), including those designated as terrorist organisations.