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Youth, Peace, and Security in West Africa:
Trailblazers of Hope
West Africa, rich in culture and history, has faced persistent conflicts that have hindered its development. Amid these challenges, the role of young people in shaping the region’s path toward stability and security has become increasingly significant. This reflection explores the dynamic relationship between youth and the pursuit of lasting peace in West Africa. It highlights how young people contribute to preventing violence, promoting dialogue, and advocating sustainable peace initiatives. It also examines the obstacles they face, while emphasizing the transformative potential of their active engagement in driving positive change and strengthening peace and security across the region.
Urban Youth Gangs and Violence in
West Africa
Franklin D. Roosevelt emphasized investing in youth to secure the future, reflecting the importance of government commitment to young people’s wellbeing. Youth represents a transitional stage from dependence to independence, generally defined by the United Nations as ages 15–25, though in Africa it often extends to 35. During this period, young people explore education, careers, and social identity but are vulnerable to exclusion and negative influences. Research links marginalization to youth involvement in violence and gangs. Youth gangs—groups sharing identity and engaging in criminal activity—are prevalent in urban areas and contribute significantly to social vices across Africa.
2022
Impact Statement
In 2022, the Conflict Research Network West Africa (CORN West Africa) actively advanced its mission to support research on political violence, armed conflicts, and peacebuilding in West Africa. Key initiatives included the State of Peace in Nigeria (SOPIN) project, peacebuilding research in collaboration with the United States Institute of Peace, and participation in the UNU-WIDER Development Conference. CORN organized workshops and colloquiums addressing topics like counterterrorism, insurgency, and political violence. Members published impactful research on issues such as Boko Haram, herdsmen-farmer conflicts, and armed banditry. The organization also established an International Advisory Board and received a positive independent audit report.
Reconceptualising Conflict: The Case of Boko
Haram and the Nigerian State
The conflict between Boko Haram and the Nigerian state is often framed as a one-dimensional terrorist insurgency driven by religious extremism. However, this perspective has contributed to failed mediation efforts. The conflict is better understood as multidimensional, rooted not only in religious fanaticism but also in wealth entrenchment in the Niger Delta and environmental crises such as the drying up of Lake Chad. These factors have intensified poverty and food insecurity in northern Nigeria. Reconceptualizing the conflict reveals Boko Haram as both a rebel movement threatening state sovereignty and a quasi-revolutionary group seeking socio-economic change and an Islamic Caliphate
Banditry and Africa’s Stability Question
Africa’s security landscape is marked by complex, interconnected threats shaped by fragile states and contested governance. Persistent challenges now coexist with emerging risks, as anti-state actors—including militias, criminal networks, insurgents, and terrorists—undermine stability. These groups often collaborate in a conflict-crime-terror nexus that fuels systematic destabilization across regions. Banditry has become a prominent manifestation of this dynamic, contributing to escalating violence and threatening national and regional security. The article argues that banditry is both a cause and consequence of state fragility, thriving in contexts of weak institutions and chronic dysfunction, where opportunistic actors exploit instability for criminal and political gain
Policy Levers for Peace
Sub-National and Local Peacebuilding Mechanisms in Nigeria
This document, titled “Policy Levers for Peace: Sub-National and Local Peacebuilding Mechanisms in Nigeria,” explores peacebuilding efforts across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. It analyzes formal and informal institutions addressing conflicts, their challenges, and outcomes. It provides case studies, highlights key findings, and offers recommendations for stakeholders to strengthen peacebuilding mechanisms and foster sustainable peace and social cohesion.
Christmas Festivities: A Panacea for Peace
in Nigeria’s Niger Delta?
Nigeria’s Niger Delta faces complex conflict and security challenges shaped by historical tensions and numerous armed groups. Key drivers include communal clashes, political rivalry, organized crime, and resource-based disputes. In 2017, inter-communal violence and land conflicts caused over 600 deaths, while anti-police attacks between 2020 and 2021 led to more than 200 fatalities. The region is highly diverse, with over 40 ethnic groups, 100 languages, and a population of 41.5 million, predominantly Christian. This diversity, combined with persistent conflict drivers, weakens social cohesion. Strengthening social cohesion—through community associations and shared social activities—remains essential for fostering positive peace and stability.
Democracy and Security Governance in Nigeria:
Looking Beyond the State
Democracy, governance, and security in Nigeria are deeply shaped by politics, which determines how resources are allocated and power exercised. Although Nigeria’s democratic ideals emphasize popular sovereignty and rule of law, the country’s plural society has long been dominated by primordial loyalties rooted in ethnicity, religion, and regionalism. Since independence in 1960, these sub-national identities have often overshadowed national identity, undermining state legitimacy and cohesion. As centrifugal forces intensify, they weaken nation-building efforts and fuel growing discontent. Ultimately, these competing identities shape patterns of cooperation and conflict among Nigeria’s diverse groups, challenging democratic stability and national unity.