Conflict economies and urban systems in the Lake Chad Region

This webinar will discuss the role of secondary and smaller urban areas in the conflict economies involving Islamist insurgencies in the Lake Chad Region. 

West Africa faces a process of rapid urbanization, with small and medium communities mushrooming without a corresponding increase in security, leaving their enlarged populations vulnerable to predation by armed groups. 

The webinar will present the findings from our latest research report on conflict economies in north-eastern Nigeria and northern Cameroon. The report highlights the illicit flows, looting and taxation practices along the region’s ‘urban systems’ – cities, towns, roads and food production infrastructure that have been severely hindered by armed groups.