Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Pan-Africanism occupies an important place in the historiography of the Lake Chad Basin, shaping the region's political and social trajectory in ways still felt today.

Within the period 1980-2015, pan-africanism took on particular significance in the Lake Chad Basin, reflecting the wider political and economic pressures of the time.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite considerable historical scholarship, the precise role of pan-africanism in the Lake Chad Basin during 1980-2015 remains a subject of ongoing debate, with existing accounts often relying on incomplete or contested source material. This study re-examines the available historical record to offer a clearer account.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To trace the role of pan-africanism in the Lake Chad Basin during 1980-2015.
2. To examine the factors that shaped pan-africanism during this period.
3. To assess the consequences of pan-africanism for the Lake Chad Basin.
4. To situate these findings within the broader historiography of the period.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What role did pan-africanism play in the Lake Chad Basin during 1980-2015?
2. What factors shaped pan-africanism during this period?
3. What were the consequences of pan-africanism for the Lake Chad Basin?
4. How do these findings relate to the broader historiography of the period?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to historians and students of history and international studies, contributing a focused account of pan-africanism in the Lake Chad Basin to the existing historiography, and offering a reference point for future comparative or regional studies.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited chronologically to 1980-2015 and geographically to the Lake Chad Basin, reflecting a PhD-level scope; developments outside this period and region fall outside its remit.