Journal of African Politics

Understanding Regional Variations in Political Violence Victimisation in Nigeria

Tunde A. Alabi — 2024-07-05

Political violence has been part of Nigeria's history such that even to date, major political processes are still characterized by violence. However, most studies have focused on the causes of political violence, with little emphasis on the vulnerability to political violence victimisation. Using the data from Afrobarometer survey that comprised of 1,568 adults, this study investigated the prevalence of political violence victimisation, associated factors and variations between the Northern and Southern regions in Nigeria. Linear regression models were fitted to understand the influence of gender, age, poverty, presence of security apparatus, political participation, party affiliation and social group membership on political violence victimisation across the two regions in Nigeria. The study found that the experience of political violence was higher in the South than in the North. Age, poverty, security presence, political participation, social group membership, and party affiliation were statistically associated with the experience of political violence. In the North, women had a higher likelihood of experiencing political violence than men (β = 0.077, p<0.05), but the reverse was the case in the South (β = -0.071, p<0.05). The frequency of participating in demonstrations or protest marches significantly increased the likelihood of political violence victimisation only in the South (β = 0.109, p<0.01), while the frequency of engaging in collective actions was positively associated with the experience of political violence only in the North (β = 0.118, p<0.05). The study submits that the two regions have notable differences that must be considered when formulating security policies in Nigeria.

Community Participation in Corporate Social Responsibility Practices of North Mara Gold Mine in Tanzania

Immaculate O. Gillo — 2024-07-05

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects that do not engage local communities around the areas of their operation are often unsuccessful or rejected by their intended beneficiaries. In Tanzania, some communities ignore or reject CSR projects, raising doubts about whether they were initially involved in such projects. Drawing from North Mara Gold Mine CSR initiatives, this paper argues that community acceptance or rejection of CSR projects relates to the extent to which the mining company engages with the community. The paper utilises survey data drawn from a systematic sample of 358 households. In addition, it uses data from interviews, documentary review and focus group discussions. The study applies descriptive and content analysis to make sense of the data. The results show inadequate involvement of communities around the goldmine in all the stages of the CSR project cycle. Consequently, the North Mara Gold Mine’s CSR initiatives have not served as an effective tool to harmonise community relations and mitigate conflicts.

The Challenges of Inclusion of the Refugees in Development Plans and National Policy in Kenya: A Case of Urban Refugees in Nairobi

Tiberius Barasa — 2024-07-05

There is increasing global interest in promoting either stable or permanent solutions to the refugee problem in the host countries. While the Government of Kenya with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has implemented inclusive initiatives targeting both the refugees and the local host communities since 2021, questions have emerged whether these initiatives are bearing fruits and whether refugees’ access to crucial government services such as health, education and economic opportunities has increased. This study examines the extent of refugee integration and explores the opportunities and challenges of the inclusion of refugees into the host country’s development processes. The study adopted an explorative research design and applied a qualitative research methodology within Nairobi city to study the inclusion of urban Sudanese refugees. From a list of 200 Sudanese refugee households residing in Nairobi, a systematic sample of 20 households was selected and interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. The qualitative data was processed and analysed thematically. This article reveals that, while there are some opportunities towards inclusion, urban refugees have not been fully integrated with development plans. Its findings call for long-term multi-stakeholder partnerships at various levels of governance to empower actors to contribute to the integration process.

Arms Proliferation and Violent Conflicts in Nigeria: A Study of Ogun State

Moliki Ahmed Olawale — 2024-07-05

Arms proliferation is a security concern for many countries and has recently been severely experienced in Nigeria. This study, through a descriptive research design, examined arms smuggling and arms proliferation and its attendant effects on violent conflict in Ogun State. The study adopted the Failed State theory as its theoretical framework and the questionnaire as a primary instrument of data collection. Using a simple random sampling technique, 400 respondents were sampled out of a target population of 23,258. Descriptive and ANOVA analysis were applied and the hypotheses, tested. The study found that arms are proliferated into Ogun State through Idiroko border via different routes and means. The study also established that arms proliferation has significant effects on violent conflicts in Ogun State. It concludes that if arms proliferation continues unrestricted, Ogun State would become a hub for militarised civil life and weaken state control. The study therefore recommends policy interventions that target arms smuggling and disarmament to curb arms proliferation. It also underscores the need for the government to address underlying drivers of violence and strengthen state institutions.