Insurgency In Africa; Cushioning the Impact on Women, the Role of International Committee of Red Cross; A Case Study of Boko Haram Insurgency in Northeast Nigeria

Insurgency is a global challenge that has affected numerous countries across different regions for decades. In the era of globalization and digitalization, insurgent groups have leveraged modern tools to spread ideologies, recruit members, and garner cross-border support more effectively. In Africa, insurgency has manifested in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mali, Somalia, and Nigeria, often resulting in violent conflict and persistent instability that undermines development. Since 2009, Nigeria’s north-eastern region has been particularly affected by violent extremism through the Boko Haram insurgency. Boko Haram has exploited the patriarchal structures prevalent in Northern Nigeria, marginalizing women and increasing their vulnerability. This marginalization negatively affects women’s civic participation, social recognition, economic empowerment, and access to property and inheritance rights. This study employed a qualitative, descriptive survey design, involving 24 key participants drawn from 24 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Maiduguri Municipal. The participants included IDP camp chairpersons, displaced women, and humanitarian workers from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Findings revealed widespread gender-based violence (GBV), including physical, sexual, psychological, and economic harm, as well as forced marriages, human trafficking, exploitation, and discrimination against women. Additional challenges included displacement, food insecurity, poor sanitation, and severe psychological trauma. The study highlights the significant role of the ICRC in mitigating the impacts of the Boko Haram insurgency on women in Northeast Nigeria. This area remains underexplored in academic literature, representing a gap in both conflict studies and humanitarian intervention research. Keywords: Insurgency in Africa; impact on women; humanitarian response; role of ICRC