Strengthening Peace and Security in West Africa: A Conversation with Anthony Antem

As regional and global challenges related to peace and security continue to evolve, collaboration and knowledge-sharing remain critical to fostering sustainable solutions. The ReCAP Final Regional Conference, taking place in Dakar, Senegal, from February 10-11 2025, brings together experts, practitioners, and researchers from across West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin to reflect on lessons learned in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and the fight against violent extremism.

In this insightful conversation, Anthony Antem (AA), Head of the Conflict Prevention Unit at the Nkafu Policy Institute, discusses the peace and security landscape in West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin. He highlights Nkafu’s contributions to the ReCAP project, shares expectations for the conference, and reflects on the importance of regional collaboration in fostering sustainable peace. The discussion is led by Ayukmba Nkonghonyor (AN), Senior Communications Manager at the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation.

AN: Anthony, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. Let’s start by setting the context. What would you say are the most pressing peace and security challenges currently facing West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin?

AA: To start with, let me clarify that West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin are two distinct geographical regions with unique specificities. As such, questions regarding these regions must be treated distinctively and properly alluded to their specific nature. While the West Africa Region could be understood in this context as one of the five regions of the African continent comprising 14 countries (formerly 17 before the withdrawal of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali) all located in the Western geographical part; the Lake Chad Basin Region is best described as the Northern most area of the Central African Region, spanning 4 countries: Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger. The region is largely reputed for its rich biodiversity, fertile floodplains, strategic migratory routes, and access to fresh water.

Speaking of challenges, both regions share some very similar challenges. The West Africa Region has been grappling with a myriad of peace and security issues whose underlying economic causes could be linked to poverty, resource scarcity, and food insecurity further exacerbated by a lack of economic opportunities and unemployment. Politically, the region is battling with issues of poor governance, electoral malpractices, and unconstitutional change of governments (UCGs) which often triggered huge waves of online/onsite protests and violent extremism across affected communities.

More severe security challenges plaguing both regions include the issue of arms proliferation which fuels cross-border insecurity, increased violence and political instability, and terrorist insurgency from rebel groups, Boko Haram and ISWAP operating mainly in the Lake Chad Basin. As concerns the Lake Chad Basin, the impact of climate change on natural resources and livelihood remains a bigger challenge in the region, most especially as this emerging trend accounts for a multitude of inter-ethnic conflicts across the West Africa Region and the Lake Chad Basin.

AN: In this challenging landscape, what role has the Nkafu Policy Institute played in conflict prevention and peacebuilding? What unique approaches or contributions set Nkafu apart?

AA: As would be expected of CSOs, the Nkafu Policy Institute, a pan-African think tank has grown a reputation of championing great research outputs, leading strategic advocacy initiatives, and enhancing operational capacities of youth, women, and grassroots organizations to better address triggers of conflict and mitigate violent extremism which align very much with its core areas of intervention.

In terms of research, the Institute has generated evidence-based data to support tailored interventions, contribute to existing knowledge on peace and security challenges, and inform policy formulation in both regions mentioned above. These knowledge outputs (reports, policy briefs, advocacy notes, position papers, etc.) embedded with salient policy recommendations have informed strategic advocacy processes by high-ranking officials, policymakers, and senior diplomats. They have also influenced the HDP nexus in affected communities.

Rooted across the Central Africa Region and reputed for its strong mobilization capacity and resourceful network, the Institute has for the past 2 years provided unique platforms through the Central Africa Think Tank Forum and the Nkafu Africa Peace and Security Forum for cross-regional collaboration and exchange of knowledge on issues of relevant interest. These fora have now formed the reputed basis for the dissemination of key findings on peace and security issues and advocacy for SDGs.

Beyond research and advocacy, the Institute recognized the need to intervene in conflict-affected communities to strengthen their capacities wherein, the Research and Actions for Peace, ReCAP Initiative, now fulfills its purpose. Through this initiative, the Institute has built capacities in inter-ethnic community dialogues for 60+ youths and women in conflict prevention and reduction of violent extremism.

AN: Thank you for bringing up the ReCAP project, in which Nkafu has been an active partner. Could you further tell us about Nkafu’s involvement and the impact made so far?

AA: Effectively, the Nkafu Policy Institute has for the past 2 years been an active partner of the ReCAP project. Our engagement in the project started at the birth of the project in Senegal together with other regional stakeholders in February 2023. Mindful of the core objective of the project and its expected impact, the project was structured into 3 main components. Firstly, we have a research component championed by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, SIPRI. Secondly, a development component championed by the Danish Refugee Council, DRC, and finally, the capacity-building component championed by the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, WANEP.

For wider community reach, effective implementation, and optimal impact, a consortium of CSOs and think tanks from 18 selected countries in the West Africa Region and the Lake Chad Basin were regrouped into a Recap Network wherein the Nkafu Policy Institute officially got involved, with a key mandate to lead on community dialogues and capacity building initiatives in Cameroon. As of today, the Wum community in the North West Region of Cameroon, having suffered a historic land dispute and intensive ethnic clashes further exacerbated by the Anglophone crisis in 2016, has witnessed relative calm and operational capacity through locally tailored community dialogue approaches and monitoring.

Building on successful practices in different host communities, 60+ youths, women and girls have been trained in conflict prevention and reduction of violent extremism. The ability for beneficiaries of these trainings to independently co-create capacity building sessions, and conduct proper needs assessments and community interventions as witnesses across local communities in Cameroon speak evidence to the impact of the Recap project.

AN: What lessons have you learned from implementing the project that you believe are important for peacebuilding in the region?

AA: Some of the biggest lessons learned through this project are:

Collaboration: recognizing the importance of building positive networks with like-minded experts, exchanging knowledge, and understanding context-specific scenarios and best practices.

Sensitivity: recognizing that community interventions could either escalate or de-escalate a conflict and knowing what conflict-sensitive approaches would better fit each context as well as effectively mainstreaming gender in our processes.

Accountability: by having full knowledge and taking responsibility for the needs of affected communities, ensuring that communities are left better and stronger than they were before interventions were made.

AN: You have been invited to represent the Nkafu Policy Institute at the ReCAP Final Regional Conference in Dakar. What does this conference mean to you personally, and what does it represent for the Nkafu Policy Institute?

AA: On a personal note, the conference speaks to me as recognition, testament and evidence of little efforts meted towards serving communities as a researcher in this space and a committed practitioner. Like previous engagements I’ve had, this conference also sets the basis and challenge for more intentional work towards equipping researchers like myself with innovative aptitude in finding African solutions to African problems to which I remain committed. Looking at it from an institutional perspective, this only continues to position the Nkafu Policy Institute as a key contributor and player in the African peace and security space and a resource hub for cross-regional exchange.

AN: The conference theme focuses on regional cooperation and coordination in peacebuilding and the prevention of violent extremism. Why is regional collaboration so crucial in addressing these issues?

AA: Many of the problems that affect both regions, such as climate change, arms proliferation, and terrorism, require a concerted approach for prospects of any durable peace. So, be it from a technical or resource allocation perspective, regional cooperation and coordination is more than ever of critical essence towards effectively addressing these issues.

AN: What outcomes are you hoping for from this conference?

AA: One of the key takeaways would be on how to sustain the project. Implanting the ReCAP Network as a cross-regional network and subsidiary mechanism for peacebuilding and conflict prevention across Africa to address protracted conflicts and security challenges would be a critical part of my intervention.

I’m further heading to this conference with a basket full of recommendations and contributions geared towards mapping a sustainability strategy for the project. I expect that in the spirit of localization, local stakeholders take more ownership of the project.

AN: Thank you, Anthony, for sharing these insightful perspectives. We look forward to following your contributions at the Dakar conference and beyond.