Category: AfSol Publication

Rethinking the Securitization of Public Health in Africa: A Frame of Reference

Rethinking the Securitization of Public Health in Africa: A Frame of Reference

Posted by | Dec 9, 2021 |

Drawing from the growing literature on the securitisation of public health in general and, in particular, that of infectious diseases in Africa, this paper explores the process through which certain health issues are perceived as security and existential threats. It uses securitisation theory as its theoretical and conceptual foundation to offer a critical analysis of the securitisation of public health in the African continent and its implications before presenting a frame of reference, a better and more constructive way of strengthening health systems in the continent.

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Political Economy and the Dialectics of Xenophobia in Post Apartheid South Africa

Political Economy and the Dialectics of Xenophobia in Post Apartheid South Africa

Posted by | Sep 28, 2021 |

This article addresses the question surrounding the political economy of the dialectics of xenophobia in South Africa. Hinging on qualitative methodology, data was drawn from both primary and secondary sources using key informant interviews, focus group discussion and archival materials respectively. Field evidence and data that was interrogated and analyzed thematically using content analysis, revealed that internal discontentment and contradictions in South Africa including social and economic inequalities, corruption, leadership deficit, poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and political rhetoric that opportunistically pit indigenous, economically less privileged South Africans against foreign Africans that are in South Africa to eke out a living and carry out their legitimate economic businesses, underpin the political economy of the xenophobic violence in South Africa. It is therefore recommended that the prevailing socio-economic conditions in post-apartheid South Africa, must be conscientiously addressed in order to address the problem of xenophobia.

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The Evolving Nature of Foreign Intervention in the Al-Shabab Insurgency in Somalia

The Evolving Nature of Foreign Intervention in the Al-Shabab Insurgency in Somalia

Posted by | Sep 28, 2021 |

In many countries, foreign intervention is part of the response to terrorist insurgency. In Somalia, however, it has attracted mixed reactions. Integrating military, humanitarian, political, economic and administrative support from the African Union, United Nations, the United States and the European Union, foreign intervention here has been lauded as it has been loathed. Indeed, it has been blamed for sustaining and expanding the insurgency to Uganda, Burundi and Kenya. However, hitherto, the merit and demerit of foreign intervention in the insurgency have not been scrutinised. It is against this background that this study delved into the impact of foreign intervention in the conflict—to generate insights for the better resolution of the insurgency and similar conflicts. Following systematic review methods, recent writing on foreign influence in Somalia was analysed. This led to the conclusion that although foreign intervention into the insurgency has not been without benefits, it has largely failed to deliver sustainable peace. However, the insurgency has ripened such that prioritisation of engagement is recommended. Research into the readiness of the foreign actors, Al-Shabaab and a transitional government to engage in peaceful resolution of the insurgency is also recommended.

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The Boko Haram Insurgency and the Festering Human Insecurity in North-East Nigeria

The Boko Haram Insurgency and the Festering Human Insecurity in North-East Nigeria

Posted by | Sep 28, 2021 |

The study establishes a nexus between Boko Haram insurgency and human insecurity in the north-east of Nigeria. Anchoring on the concept of human security, the study adopt qualitative method of data collection and analysis which relied heavily on extant literature from journal articles, official documents, workshop and seminar papers, newspapers, magazines and internet
sources. The study argues that though human insecurity is a major driver of the Boko Haram insurgency. The lethal and destructive activities of its actors have heightened and widened the spate of human insecurity amid debilitating food insecurity, physical harm, internal displacements and hemorrhaging refugee syndrome. The study concludes that military combat alone cannot tame the Boko Haram insurgency and thus recommends that, the government should adopt credible measures to address the human security challenges as an effective and functional counter-insurgency strategy.

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Media and Peacebuilding in Zamfara State of North-West Nigeria: A Study of an Armed Bandit Conflict

Media and Peacebuilding in Zamfara State of North-West Nigeria: A Study of an Armed Bandit Conflict

Posted by | Sep 28, 2021 |

This paper examined the ways radio contributed to peacebuilding and promotion using the case
of armed banditry and cattle rustling in Zamfara State. The study was guided by four specific objectives: to find out whether radio can be used as a mechanism of peacebuilding; to find out if the intervention by radio programs have influenced the escalation or de-escalation of armed bandits’ conflict in Zamfara; to examine the extent to which the people of Zamfara use radio as a mechanism of peacebuilding; and finally to survey the perceptions of people of Zamfara towards the use of radio in peacebuilding. The study used survey research design and data were gathered through a questionnaire administered to 338 respondents. The data were thematically analyzed by classifying major issues and recurrent themes. Then they were presented in narrative form. The findings of the study showed that radio served as an appropriate, cheap and easily accessible medium of passing peace messages; contributed considerably to the de-escalation of conflict; and reduced the frequency of conflict in the state. An overwhelming majority of the respondents (98%) agreed that radio has been the best medium for promoting peacebuilding. In conclusion, radio proves to be effective in dousing tensions and disseminating information on what needs to be done. Finally, the paper recommended that the government should formulate policies that make it possible to involve radio in conflict resolution efforts since it is cheap and easily accessible to many people.

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