Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Publications

Policing Africa: Imperatives to Peace, Security, and Governance

In this paired research paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding scholar Meressa Kahsu Dessu examines policing in Africa and its implications on peace and security.

The Changing Nature of Security Threats in the Central Sahel: The Rise of Self-Defense Groups and Private Security Companies

Transitional Justice, Women’s Empowerment, and Sustainable Peace: The Case of Zimbabwe

Toward Greater Synergy Between International and Domestic Election Observation

The Legacy Of An “Unlived Traumatic Past” : The Impact Of The 1994 Genocide Memories On Young Rwandans And National Peacebuilding

Simmering Inter-Ethnic Tensions in Ethiopia: Drivers and Regional Implications

Food Security as a Driver of Sustainable Peace: The Case of Kenya

Herder-Farmer Conflicts in South East Nigeria: Assessing the Dangers

Tackling the Challenges of Peacebuilding in the Eastern Nile Basin: A Regional Security Complex Approach

The Role of Traditional Justice Institutions in Peacebuilding: Lessons Learned from the Gereb in Northeast Ethiopia

Refugee Women’s Inclusion in Peace Agreement Implementation: Case Study of South Sudanese Women in West Nile, Uganda

Rethinking IGAD’s Role in Addressing Emerging Regional Security Threats

In this paper, Getachew Zeru Gebrekidan and Messay Asgedom Gobena examine various challenges to IGAD’s role in addressing long-standing and emerging regional security threats in the HoA. It begins with a brief account of IGAD's mandate to address regional security threats. It then examines emerging security threats in the IGAD region and IGAD’s responses. The next section considers the overall structural impediments to the performance of IGAD. Finally, the paper puts forward some policy options and recommendations.

Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism in Eastern Africa in the COVID-19 Era

In this paper, Nicholas Ozor, Fredrick Ogenga, and Felix Musila examine the immediate and remote causes of violent extremism and formulates strategies for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) in Eastern Africa, especially in the COVID-19 era.

Lessons from Street Protests as a Peacemaking Process

In this paper, Arsene Brice Bado and Philippe Gueu investigate this phenomenon in Africa by posing the following critical questions: What is driving the call for change amongst Africa's citizenry? Who are the street peacebuilders? What are their methods? Finally, what can we conclude about the actions and achievements of street peacebuilders?

#EndSARS Youth Protests in Nigeria: Lessons and Opportunities for Regional Stability

In this paper, Osei Baffour Frimpong and Richmond Commodore assess the lessons the #EndSARS protests offer to other West African countries and highlights potential opportunities for addressing youth grievances in order to mitigate threats to regional stability. The paper first presents an overview of the protests in Nigeria. Secondly, it highlights the link between the causes of the #EndSARS protests and regional dynamics. The last section examines ways to enhance regional stability.

The COVID-19 Pandemic in Africa: Impact, Responses, and Lessons from Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda

In this paper, Osei Baffour Frimpong, Rigobert Minani Bihuzo, S.J., and Richmond Commodore examine the impact of COVID-19 and response strategies in Africa with a specific focus on Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Rwanda.

Security Sector Reform (SSR) Challenges to Peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

In this paper, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding and Africa Program Scholar Rigobert Minani Bihuzo, analyzes security sector reform in the DRC and its challenges.

Financial Inclusion in the COVID-19 Era: Policy Responses in West Africa

In this paper, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding and Africa Program Scholar Richmond Commodore, explores the financial inclusion perspective of COVID-19-related interventions in West African countries, with a specific focus on DFS.

Climate Change and Violent Extremism in the Lake Chad Basin: Key Issues and Way Forward

In this paper, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding and Africa Program Scholar Osei Baffour Frimpong, examines the impact of climate change on diminishing resources, as well as its relationship with violent extremism and terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin.

Violent Extremism in West Africa: Are Current Responses Enough?

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar, Osei Baffour Frimpong, analyzes regional and international approaches for CVE in West Africa, evaluates the efficacy of current mechanisms, and explores the root causes of violent extremism.

Transnational Organized Crime and Peacebuilding in East Africa

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar, Messay Asgedom Gobena, assesses the relationship between TOC, conflict, and peacebuilding in East Africa.

Diaspora Financing for Development and Peacebuilding: Lessons from Sub-Saharan Africa

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar, Richmond Commodore, examines the current role of the African diaspora in economic development and peacebuilding efforts on the continent.

Building Peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Beyond the United Nations Toolkit

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar, Rigobert Minani Bihuzo, analyzes the deployment of MONUSCO in the DRC.

The Impact of COVID-19 in South Africa

In this paper, Dr. Emmanuel Sekyere, Prof. Narnia Bohler-Muller, Prof. Charles Hongoro, and Dr. Mokhantso Makoae examine COVID-19’s implications and impacts on South African society in the social, economic, health, environmental, and technological realms.

Economic Sanctions are not an Effective Instrument for Political Pressure

The Africa Program thanks Dr. Jok Madut Jok (Professor of Anthropology at Syracuse University and the former director of the Sudd Institute) and Mr. John Prendergast, Ms. Hilary Mossberg, and Ms. Megha Swamy (from The Sentry) for a much-needed advancement of the discussion on the effectiveness of sanctions.

Chinese Migrants Versus Ordinary Zambians: Causes of Tension and Possible Peace Pathways

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar, Emmanuel Matambo, explores Zambia-China relations at the subnational level, focusing on the historical relation between Zambia and China. He highlights the evolution, current state, and emerging tensions in Zambia-China relations at the citizen level.

The Role of Agricultural Extension in Peacebuilding in the Central African Republic

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar, Paterne Mombe, discusses the impact CAR’s conflict has had on agriculture and food security and examines the role of agricultural extension services in peacebuilding in post-conflict countries, with a focus on the Central African Republic (CAR).

Hate Speech and the Challenges of Post-Election Peacebuilding in Nigeria

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar Olusola Isola explores elections-related hate speech in Nigeria in the context of Nigeria’s 2011 and 2015 general elections, and the challenges it poses to peacebuilding post-election. He provides policy recommendations on how Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, civil society organizations and actors, media organizations, and the international community can counter and curtail the practice of hate speech during election periods.

Glimmers of Light: Opportunities for Preventing Violence in South Africa

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar Chandre Gould examines responses to violence prevention in South Africa, focusing on the challenges and shortcomings impacting government efforts. She provides policy recommendations on how the South African government, non-governmental organizations, researchers, and donors can scale-up the effectiveness of violence prevention in South Africa through cross-sectoral collaboration aimed at developing and implementing programs that sustainably address the risk factors for violence.

Making the Dividend Count: Bridging Research and Africa’s Policy Processes

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar Diana Warira examines the role of science communication in policymaking for the demographic dividend. She provides policy recommendations on how demographic dividend researchers and development experts, and African governments and policymakers can foster more effective communications between researchers and policymakers, as well as better facilitate the uptake of evidence-based research to policymakers.

Mitigating Cross-Border Intergroup Conflicts along the Ethiopia-South Sudan Border

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Tasew Tafese Gashaw examines the cross-border intergroup conflict along the porous Ethiopia-South Sudan border. He provides policy recommendations on how regional and international organizations and the governments of South Sudan and Ethiopia can reduce cross-border intergroup conflict and improve the livelihoods of borderland communities.

Narrowing the Gap between Local and International Peacebuilding Efforts in South Sudan

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Emmaculate Asige Liaga examines peacebuilding efforts in South Sudan, focusing on the gap between locally led and international processes. She provides policy recommendations on how the Government of South Sudan, international state actors, and international non-governmental organizations can ensure sustainable peace through peacebuilding projects that include local organizations and communities.

The Media and Election-Related Violence in Africa: Lessons from Kenya

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Sharon Anyango Odhiambo examines the role the media can play in amplifying hate speech and fueling election-related violence and how neutral reporting can support more peaceful elections. She provides policy recommendations on how the Kenyan government, domestic media organizations, and international partners can best support the development of an independent, neutral, and professional media.

Beyond Material Interventions: Rethinking the Role of Gender, Media, and the Politics of Female Violent Extremism in Kenya

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar Fredrick Ogenga examines the scope of female violent extremism in Kenya, its drivers, and how governments and media organizations can counter it.

Deepening Regional Integration in Africa: Maximizing AGOA in ECOWAS for Economic Transformation

In this paper and brief, Southern Voices Network Scholar George Boateng explores how regional integration through the West African economic community ECOWAS can help West African countries leverage regional advantages to become more competitive. He gives policy options for using regional integration to maximizing utilization of AGOA, driving economic transformation, and building peace and security.

Political Finance-Related Corruption and Its Implications for Governance and Peacebuilding in Nigeria

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Benjamin Adeniran Aluko examines the drivers of political finance-related corruption, studies its implications for governance and security, and provides suggestions for countering it.

Fostering Entrepreneurship and Building Peace Among Youth in Côte d’Ivoire and Beyond

In this paired paper and policy brief, Southern Voices Network Scholar François Pazisnewende Kaboré provides policy options on how entrepreneurship education in Côte d’Ivoire and elsewhere in Africa can strengthen entrepreneurship education and create supportive ecosystems to help create jobs for youth and support peacebuilding.

Women, Artisanal Mining, and Peacebuilding in Africa: A Call to Action

In this policy brief and research paper, Southern Voices Network Scholar Maame Esi Eshun presents her research and provides policy options on what African governments, international policymakers, and donors can do to empower women artisanal miners to build peace.

Opening Up the Demographic Dividend Window in Sub-Saharan Africa: How Did Low-Fertility Countries Do It?

A rapid drop in fertility rates can produce a demographic dividend, which can be a boon to development and economic growth. In this paper and policy brief...

Enhancing Gender in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) for Sustainable Development in Africa

In this policy brief, Southern Voices Network Scholar Ayodotun Bobadoye discusses the importance of STI on the continent and recommends a coordinated new approach, embodied in the AU's STISA-2024 plan, to kickstart Africa's knowledge economy and capture the unrealized STI potential of African women.

Why Democracy Promoters Must Pay Close Attention to Ghana and Africa’s Other Growing Democracies

Ghana is one of Africa’s most stable democracies. After six successive elections and two transitions from one political party to the other, many observers believe the country’s democracy is close to democratic consolidation, having met the two-turnover test suggested by Huntington (1991).

The Importance of Enhancing Civic Education in Post-Conflict Elections

Civic education in post-conflict elections has not received nearly the attention that it deserves, thereby missing the opportunity to consolidate and build on what is often a very fragile peace.

Tackling the South Sudan Conflict within a Complicated Regional Security Complex

The civil war in South Sudan, characterized by ongoing violence and broken ceasefires, is, for the moment, paused by a tenuous peace agreement. To make it stick, the need for regional mediation and international pressure is greater than ever. In this policy brief, Southern Voices Network Scholar Getachew Zeru Gebrekidan, examines the key role IGAD--a regional group composed of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda--has played in the peace process and recommends greater coordination between IGAD, the U.S., and other key international stakeholders and deeper engagement in the peace process.

Women’s Access to Power and Decision-Making in Africa: Addressing Obstacles and Offering Solutions

There is widespread agreement that equal access to power and decision-making for men and women is fundamental to representative and responsive governance. This has been highlighted in governance and development discourses against a background of women’s unequal and limited access to public office. Women’s substantive representation in political positions is crucial to closing the gender gap in decision-making structures. Within Africa, tremendous strides have been made towards improving women’s political inclusion in recent years.

Rallying Africa to Embrace and Implement Social Innovation Policies: Lessons from Far and Near

"Sub-Saharan Africa’s tagline as “the next global investment hub” is becoming a cliché. Following a decade of sustained economic growth, averaging between 5 and 6% of annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth (Regional Economic Outlook, 2014) and backed by rich natural resources such as gold, timber, silver, coal and new discoveries of oil in many countries, all indicators are pointing towards a continent with formidable economic prospects. The latest ranking places Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) as the second fastest-growing continent after Asia, with seven of the world’s ten fastest-growing economies located in the region . In fact, SSA is brimming with unprecedented confidence about its future prospects as a global competitor and economic giant."

Governing the Horn of Africa’s Lowlands: Land Investments and Villagization in Gambella, Ethiopia

"Since 2001, the Ethiopian government has been committed to building a “developmental state,” one with a strong state-led macro-economic plan, much like that of East Asian countries. After 2005, the developmental agenda took center stage in public discourse. This increasingly dominant discourse frames poverty as an existential threat to Ethiopia’s survival, necessitating its eradication by hastening development at all costs. In recent years, various independent international organizations have agreed that Ethiopia is among the fastest growing economies in the world."

The Hybridization of Security Sector Governance for Peace-Building and State-Building In Somalia

"The collapse of the Somali central government and the ensuing anarchy resulted in major insecurity that compelled the indigenous population to seek alternative means to safeguard its livelihood. This led to the proliferation of non-state security actors, the rise in their legitimacy, and the emergence of hybridized security sector governance. This paper argues for the use of hybridized security governance to consolidate peace and state building in contemporary Somalia and gives insight into how neighboring countries and the international community might support Somali efforts to preserve peace. It suggests that the Somalia Federal Government should decentralize security sector governance and integrate traditional justice remedies and local militias into the governance structure with well-articulated roles and a system of accountability."