Introduction:

It is not impossible to address the challenges of the Lake Chad region if local people can find ways to make a sustainable living, said an African Union envoy.

Saying the linkage between poverty and radicalization was “obvious”, Bineta Diop, AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, also highlighted the importance of putting women, the “backbone” of society, at the centre during a time when gender roles are changing.

Daniel Dickinson asked her how big the development challenges were in the area.