Gendered Dimensions of Reparations: Addressing the Harm of Wartime Sexual Violence Through African Feminist Policy Lenses

Despite being central to post-conflict justice, reparations often ignore gendered needs, failing the women and girls who constitute the majority of survivors. By examining post-conflict case studies like Liberia, the DRC, and Rwanda, this paper explores how African feminist policy—centered on survivor participation and psychosocial care—can create more inclusive frameworks. It argues that reparations must move beyond symbolic gestures to provide material and socioeconomic support that restores agency. Ultimately, by adopting a feminist lens, these programs can transform from mere compensation into vital tools for gender-equitable peacebuilding and long-term development.

Maritime Security in Ghana’s Blue Economy: Exploring Socio-Economic Realities and Governance

This article analyzes Ghana’s maritime security by examining the intersection of socio-economic factors, environmental pressures, and the blue economy, with a specific focus on the fisheries sector. By integrating academic research and field data, the study explores how youth unemployment, gender inequality, and regulatory frameworks drive challenges like illegal (IUU) fishing and resource-based conflicts. Ultimately, the paper advocates for a “Blue Justice” approach to address the tensions between foreign investment and local social justice, providing a holistic understanding of security across local and regional levels.

Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland and Violent Extremism in Burkina Faso

To address security gaps and military limitations against violent extremism, Burkina Faso established the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland (VDP) as a central security pillar. Using a structural constructivist approach and qualitative data from 59 stakeholders, this study finds that while VDPs enhance community security, their presence risks fueling inter-community violence and eroding state legitimacy. The article concludes that the government must strategically anticipate the long-term role of these volunteers by integrating them into a post-extremism governance framework focused on disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) to ensure lasting stability.

African Union Forces Mandates and their Implications for the Fight Against Al-Shabaab in Somalia

This paper utilizes Rational Institutionalist theory to examine the African Union’s mandate in Somalia, focusing on peace operations, political settlements, and the degradation of Al-Shabaab. While AU-led forces implemented diverse operational and capacity-building measures, their effectiveness was hampered by logistical gaps, intelligence failures, and complex clan dynamics. Furthermore, the presence of foreign troops is paradoxically cited as a factor in sustaining the insurgency by propping up a nascent federal government. The authors conclude that while Somalia is not yet prepared for full security autonomy, the eventual withdrawal of AU forces must be predicated on the development of a militarily effective Somali security apparatus and a Somali-led national political strategy.

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AfSol at a Glance

Journal Information

Title: African Solutions Journal (AfSol)
e-ISSN: 2518-8135
Host: Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS)
Periodicity: Biannual
Website: https://afsol.ipss-addis.org
Scope: Interdisciplinary research with a focus on African peace and security, bridging theory and policy as well as academia and practice.
Distribution: Open access print and electronic formats
Language: English
DOI Prefix: 10.63990/afsol