International Journal of Conflict Management

Coopération Transfrontalière et Mécanismes de Prévention et de Résolution des Conflits Entre les Communautés du Nord-Cameroun et du Nord-Nigeria : cas des Peuls, Mafa et Kanouri

Mouhamadou Aminou Mamoudou — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0300

But : Ce texte vise à montrer le rôle de la diplomatie traditionnelle dans le cadre de maintien de la paix entre les communautés transfrontalières du Nord-Cameroun et de la partie septentrionale du Nigéria. Les communautés ciblées sont entre autre les Peuls, les Mafa et les Kanouri. Pour cela, il faut noter que les relations entre ces communautés sont fondées sur trois périodes distinctes à savoir : la période précoloniale, coloniale et post colonial. À chacune des périodes, ces dernières ont entretenu des relations basées sur plusieurs aspects et malgré les différends qui les ont opposés.

Méthodologie : La méthodologie de ce travail s’appuie en grande partie sur la démarche empirique. Ceci à travers le terrain effectué dans les Etats du Nord-Est tels que Borno, Gombe et Adamawa et dans ceux du Nord-Ouest du Nigéria à l’instar de Kano, Kaduna et Sokoto. Pour ce qui de la partie septentrionale du Cameroun, ces enquêtes ont été faits dans les régions de l’Extrême-Nord, le Nord et l’Adamawa. Subséquemment, l’exploitation et l’analyse de ces données permet de montrer que, nonobstant les différentes frontières artificielles imposées par les colonisateurs allemands, anglais et français contre le gré des communautés Peules, Mafa et Kanouri, ces dernières continuent d’entretenir des relations.

Résultats: Ces divers échanges politique, économique, social et militaire initiés de part et d’autres parties septentrionales permettent de prévenir et de résoudre leurs conflits. En plus de cela, la culture reste un élément fondamental dans le cadre de renforcement de leurs liens. C’est sur elle que ces communautés du Nord-Cameroun et du Nord-Nigéria s’appuient pour utiliser les mécanismes endogènes de prévention et de résolution de leurs conflits.

Contribution unique à la théorie, aux politiques et à la pratique : En se basant sur la théorie de la coopération internationale, ce travail permet de montrer que cette diplomatie est fondamentale pour le maintien de la paix et de la stabilité entre ces communautés transfrontalières.

Africa’s Rampant ‘Coup d’ tats’: “Power Grabs” or a Reversal of Constitutional Democracy?

Manboah-Rockson, Joseph K., Teng-Zeng, Frank K., Yakubu Adjuik, Robert. — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0300

Purpose: Since the year 2021, sub-Saharan Africa has been revisiting a decade-old problem: a flare of military coup d’états in close proximity to each other. These occurrences are happening in parallel to four broad trends in the study of international relations: first, is the surge of foreign interest in Africa, dubbed the ‘New Scramble for Africa’ for mineral resources and influence; second, is the democratic ‘deficit’ in sub-Saharan Africa occasioned by weak democratic institutions and civil society; third, is the negative impacts of globalization on Africa; and fourth, is the ‘new and crocket ways’ of overturning or extending constitutionally-mandated presidential term limits. Is Africa witnessing the emergence of “Latter Days Saints” to save the masses? Or are these coups “power grabs” conducted by unscrupulous criminals disguised as soldiers?

Methodology: This research employs a qualitative approach involving the collecting and analysing of non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences of military takeovers. The common approaches used include grounded theory – the collection of rich data on a topic of interest and to develop theories inductively; ethnography – researching into the military network to understand their cultures; action research - linking theory to practice to drive social change; phenomenological research – investigating a phenomenon or event by describing and interpreting participants’ lived experiences; and narrative research – examining how stories are told to understand how participants perceive and make sense of their experiences. Even though these approaches share some similarities, they emphasize different aims and perspectives.

Findings: The findings in this study are that the motivation for ‘old coups’ in Africa are present in national politics today. The assessment from the article details how foreign powers use ‘coup de ‘tats’ as new ways of illegally ‘grabbing’ Africa’s resources. China’s strategy in Africa is about its commercial interests rather than political interference in the domestic politics of African countries. But China is heavily involved in the new scramble for Africa because it seeks for reliable sources of oil supply because of its growing domestic consumption and not to politically malign anyone; manipulate local politicians or interrupt in the internal affairs of African countries. Indeed, the ‘real scramblers’ in Africa for mineral resources are France, Russia, Britain and the Unites States of America; whose energy resource-bases are depleting, but still make huge profits at the expense of developing countries, particularly in Africa.

Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: This study offer qualitative insights of how the scramble for mineral resources in Africa will continue to disrupt democratic governance in Africa. Of particular importance, is the ‘new and crocket ways’ by politicians to loot national coffers of their countries by overturning or extending constitutionally-mandated presidential term limits, as well as the use of coup d’ tats by rogue military officers to overthrow constitutional elected governments in Africa.

The Challenges of Human Security in the Horn of Africa: The Case of Somaliland.

Abdillahi Mohamed Bile — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0300

Purpose: In the Horn of Africa the main challenges to human security in this region have originated from political and state fragility, resource scarcities, and environmental degradation. Human security is arrayed against escalating communal violence, small arms proliferation, and massive movements of people within and beyond the region. Since 1991 the people of Somaliland have successfully established a peaceful and relatively stable state and community. They have managed a process of reconciliation, demobilized the local militias, restored law and order, and held numerous rounds of peaceful elections. Peace, stability, national and state security were enhanced which allowed normal patterns of trade and other economic activities to resume. Therefore the main objective of this study is to analyze the contemporary situation of human security in Somaliland and to figure out the key challenges of human security that faced Somaliland since post 1991and its performance in subject matter.

Methodology: The study is exploratory as well as descriptive research designs. Where qualitative data were collected and used. For selection of respondents, non- probabilistic sampling techniques, particularly purposive sampling technique were applied.

Findings: The study found that Somaliland had made relatively advancement for political, economic, health, personal and community securities post 1991. In addition, the study found that the environmental security challenges in Somaliland are many and complex in nature and Somaliland has chronically food insecure since 1991 due to lack of commitment of the government for realizing food security in the country, frequent natural and man-made disasters that erodes the livelihood base of the community. Also the study found that, Lack of international recognition, Terrorism activities in Somalia are major external challenges of human security in Somaliland. While a high unemployment rate, corruption, weak of governmental institutions and recurrent droughts are the dramatic internal challenges of the realization of human security in the country.

Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: Moreover, the study recommends that the government of Somaliland is required to engage human security notions by employing effective strategies and policy directions, to realize wellbeing of the Somaliland society which would promote both human security and state security since these two concepts are interrelated. Also the study recommends to Somaliland government should Review, evaluate and develop agricultural policies, health policies, environmental policies, economic policies and the legislative and institutional framework on a regular basis for the purpose of promoting and ensuring human security in the country.