To explore dialogue as a viable option in preventing and countering violent extremism in the Lake Chad Basin region, it is important to consult local communities who are directly affected by it. Their experiences offer first-hand community-level insights on the challenges affecting the region and their communities’ perceptions regarding dialogue. This policy brief aims to gain some insights on civil society perspectives on dialogue in the region. This policy brief aims to build on the previous research and offer insight on the perspectives of civil society organisations (CSOs) regarding the possibilities for dialogue between the governments of the Lake Chad Basin and violent extremist groups. These insights question the potential for a dialogue-based approach and seek to determine whether local community actors, including civil society, believe that governments should initiate dialogue with Boko Haram or ISWAP.
