Sub-Saharan Africa: Societal Reintegration of Ex-Militant Youths

Abstract

This is a study of how militant youths in Sub-

Community perspectives of former terrorist combatants, militants and reintegration programmes in Nigeria: a systematic review

“…A common theme from 13 of the 18 synthesised studies was the perceived sense of a top-12 down approach in designing rehabilitation and reintegration programmes (Adebayo & Matsilele, 2019;Ikoh & Ukpong, 2018;Onyima, 2017;Tobor, 2016;International Alert/UNICEF Nigeria, 2016;Felbab-Brown, 2018;Okoli-Osemeni, 2018;Centre for Democracy and Development, 2017;Onyima, 2017;Etekpe, 2013;Okurebia & Daniel, 2013;Hassan and Tyvoll, 2018;Nwanze, Obingene & Nieze, 2018). Communities felt a lack of ownership on the process and thought that the programmes did not reflect their norms, values or opinions regarding reintegration.…”

“…The review found that studies highlighted concerns on the difficulty in discerning accountability for acts perpetrated by former combatants (Felbab-Brown, 2018;Hassan & Tyvoll, 2018;Onyima, 2017; International Alert/UNICEF Nigeria, 2016) and the government (Nwanze et al 2018). A female participant in Hassan and Tyyoll's (2018: 17) study stated that: 14…”

“…In nine of the 18 studies, a notable finding was the sense that monetization or the granting of amnesty could not provide a long-term solution to the problem (Ebiede et al, 2020;Adebayo & Matsilele, 2019;Ikoh & Ukpong, 2018;Felbab-Brown, 2018;Centre for Democracy and Development, 2017;Onyima, 2017;Iwilade, 2017;Raimi, Bieh & Zorbari, 2017;Etekpe, 2013). These views resonated regardless of the group.…”

“…For seven of the studies, a common theme was the perceived resistance towards reintegration due to the preference of repentant Boko Haram needs above the host communities' in terms of development and opportunities (Adebayo and Matsilele, 2019;Hassan and Tyvoll, 2018;Mahmood and Ani, 2018;Centre for Democracy and Development, 2017;Onyima, 2017;International Alert/UNICEF Nigeria, 2016;Felbab-Brown, 2018). The perceptions held in these studies asserted the disregard for the reintegration programmes.…”

“…Among 12 of the 18 synthesised studies, most respondents perceived stigmatization and a lack of confidence in the genuine repentance of former apologetic combatants who were members of Boko Haram or part of a militancy (Ebiede et al, 2020;Adebayo & Matsilele, 2019;Hassan & Tyvoll, 2018;Felbab-Brown, 2018;Nwanze et al, 2018;Okoli-Osemeni, 2018;Centre for Democracy & Development, 2017;Iwilade, 2017;Onyima, 2017; International Alert/UNICEF Nigeria, 2016; Etekpe, 2013;Okurebia & Daniel, 2018). The lack of confidence implies the expression of doubt in the ability of excombatants to truly reform.…”