At the 5th Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum in Maiduguri, civil society groups stressed the importance of continued regional cooperation despite Niger’s recent exit from ECOWAS. Speaking to West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR), they emphasized that political changes should not derail efforts to address security and humanitarian challenges.

The Lake Chad Basin, already grappling with insurgency and displacement, relies on cross-border collaboration to tackle these issues. Activists and policy experts at the forum urged member states to prioritize stability and collective action over political differences.

Niger’s withdrawal from ECOWAS has raised concerns about regional cohesion, but civil society actors believe ongoing initiatives must remain intact. They called for governments to sustain dialogue and joint interventions to protect vulnerable communities.

The forum reinforced the need for multilateral cooperation in addressing shared challenges, ensuring that humanitarian and security efforts continue uninterrupted, regardless of political shifts.