Cameroon: Rehabilitated ex-Boko Haram fighters start civilian lives
3 min read
FILE - An unidentified man rides a motorbike past houses in Chibok, Nigeria, May 19, 2014. Boko Haram fighters have returned to the area, according to local leaders.
Moussa Idriss, once a fighter for the notorious militant group Boko Haram, is eager to start anew. After surrendering to the Cameroonian army in 2017, Idriss now finds himself in a rehabilitation center for disarmed fighters in the country’s Far North region. This marks the beginning of his transition from a life of violence to one of peace, as he embarks on a journey to rebuild his life and reintegrate into society.
“I am ready to turn a new page,” says Idriss, reflecting on his decision to leave the militant group. “Today, I am happy to return home to my family. I want to reunite with my brothers, my father, and live peacefully in the community.”
Since 2018, Cameroon has established two deradicalization centers in Mora and Meri, aimed at helping former Boko Haram fighters reintegrate into civilian life. These centers focus on training ex-combatants in various trades, such as carpentry, agriculture, and mechanics, providing them with the skills necessary to lead productive, peaceful lives.
At the Meri center alone, nearly 3,000 ex-fighters have undergone training. Of these, 600 individuals have been selected as part of the first group to be reintegrated into their communities. Evariste Atangana Zoua, a regional administrator, shared the importance of these efforts: “Here in Meri, we have nearly 3,000 ex-fighters who have gone through training. Today, 600 of them have been selected to return to their communities as part of the first wave of reintegration.”
The process of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) is being carefully monitored by officials to ensure that the former fighters are fully reformed and capable of living peacefully in society. The goal is not just to disarm them, but also to support their social and economic reintegration. However, this transition is not always easy.
While the ex-combatants have the freedom to choose where they wish to settle and begin their new lives, they sometimes face resistance from local communities. This is due to the trauma many local residents have experienced from the violence perpetrated by Boko Haram fighters. Some people are understandably reluctant to accept former combatants back into their communities, fearing that they may not have fully renounced violence or that they might pose a security threat.
Oumar Bichair, the head of the disarmament program in the Far North region, acknowledges this challenge: “If we cannot forgive and accept reconciliation with those who took up arms yesterday, we will not achieve the lasting peace that the Head of State has greatly wished for.” This sentiment highlights the delicate balance between justice, reconciliation, and the long-term goal of peace.
For some of the reintegrated individuals, the path to peace is even more complicated. Several of the former fighters are Nigerian nationals who, for safety reasons, have chosen to stay in Cameroon rather than return to their home country. These individuals fear retaliation from Boko Haram or other militant groups if they were to go back to Nigeria. As a result, they have opted to remain in Cameroon, hoping to build new lives away from the conflict they once fought in.
Despite these challenges, the DDR program represents a significant step forward in Cameroon’s efforts to counter the influence of Boko Haram in the region. The success of this initiative hinges on both the ex-fighters’ willingness to embrace peace and the local communities’ ability to forgive and accept them.
The reintegration of former fighters is a crucial part of Cameroon’s broader strategy to combat extremism and promote stability in the Far North region, which has been plagued by Boko Haram attacks for years. However, achieving lasting peace requires cooperation from all sides—government, former combatants, and local communities. Only by working together can they overcome the divisions created by years of violence and build a future of peace and prosperity for everyone.
For Moussa Idriss and others like him, the road ahead is uncertain, but it is filled with the possibility of a new life. As he looks toward the future, he remains hopeful that his decision to leave Boko Haram and embrace civilian life will lead to healing, not just for himself, but for the wider community as well.
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