Attaques kamikazes des boko haram et choix des jeunes adolescentes à l’extrême-nord du Cameroun : étude anthropologique

Abstract

This dissertation in cultural anthropology focuses on "Boko Haram kamikaze attacks and the choices of young adolescent girls in the Far North of Cameroon: an anthropological study". This research is the response to the question concerning the involvement of adolescent girls in suicide bombs attacks of Boko Haram in the Far North of Cameroon, precisely the Mayo-Sava Division. The problem it tries to elucidate is that of analysing the cultural basis that structures the recruitment of adolescent girls as human bombs during Boko Haram attacks in the Far North region. To better understand this problem, a main question was asked: Why are young adolescent girls used as suicide bombers in Boko Haram attacks? To this question, a research hypothesis is formulated as follows: Young adolescent girls are used as suicide bombers in Boko Haram's attacks on communities because they are seen by them and the Islamist sect as people who can enter anywhere without restriction . After this research hypothesis, a research objective was set as follows: To identify the different reasons why adolescent girls are used as suicide bombers in attacks by the Islamist sect Boko Haram. To better understand the cultural underpinnings of adolescent girl recruitment, we used conflict theories and ethnomethodology. Methodologically, the qualitative approach was used to collect, analyse and interpret the data. To demonstrate the argumentative approach, a corpus was built from readings and field research, all structured by direct observations, documentation, in-depth individual interviews and focus group discussions. The data collected were subjected to qualitative content and thematic analysis. This two-pronged approach allowed us to arrive the following results: According to local perceptions, the perpetration of suicide bombs attacks by the use of adolescent girls is motivated by multivariable and plural reasons. Adolescent suicide bombers come from all social strata regardless of ethnic groups, but mostly those who share common languages spoken in North-Eastern Nigéria and the Mayo-Sava Division in the Far North of Cameroon. The adolescent girls recruited into this war are mostly school less due to socio-economic conditions and cultural reasons. The socioeconomic environment is not always gathered to provide shelter to people against misery and poverty. Religion belief makes an object of manipulations of the Holy Scriptures for the recruitment of young adolescent girls. On the whole, in order to commit the damage, those designated to do so undergo training that will allow them not to be detected by the authorities. Afterwards, they proceed by choosing places to go and detonate the bombs.. To bring to an end the recruitment of adolescent girls as suicide bombers, it is necessary to educate them in a spirit of criticism, to improve the socio-economic conditions of the population, to promote inclusive education for young girls, strengthen security in conflict-affected areas and raise awareness of the value of girls' education.