African Political Violence (Political Science focus)
African Political Violence (Political Science focus) is a peer‑reviewed scholarly journal published under the Pan‑African Research Journals (PARJ) platform, advancing African‑centred and global research.
Competitive Fragmentation: Violence Entrepreneurs and the Political Economy of Armed Group Proliferation in South Sudan
Civil wars marked by fragmentation often generate new armed actors rather than consolidate existing ones. In South Sudan, the rapid proliferation of factions reflects not only elite political disputes but also the incentives facing local commanders embedded in war economies and systems of recognition. The concept of competitive fragmentation captures how these dynamics drive the multiplication of armed groups beyond the logic of formal political negotiation. Moving beyond a descriptive account, the manuscript situates armed group proliferation within broader debates on African political order, state formation, and institutional design. Focusing on South Sudan, with comparative reference to other fragmented civil wars, the study addresses three interrelated questions: what explains the expansion from two principal belligerents in 2013 to more than 40 registered armed groups by 2018, and what this reveals about the internal political economy of rebellion; how local commanders’ economic interests—particularly control over cattle, gold, teak, and humanitarian supply chains—drive fragmentation independently of national-level negotiations; and under what conditions international recognition, through peace agreement inclusion, DDR registration, or humanitarian engagement, inadvertently incentivises the formation of new armed actors. Methodologically, the study combines original armed group dataset construction using UNMISS monitoring reports and ACLED data (2013–2023), process tracing of key fragmentation episodes, interview-based research with commanders from seven armed groups across Greater Upper Nile and Equatoria, and the application of agent-based modelling to simulate fragmentation dynamics. The contribution lies in explaining how fragmentation is not merely a symptom o
Copyright (c) 2026 African Political Violence (Political Science focus)
This article develops competitive fragmentation as an analytical lens for understanding how armed group proliferation is driven by commander-level incentives, war economies, and recognition effects. Rather than treating the topic as a descriptive case note, the manuscript positions armed group fragmentation and the proliferation of violence entrepreneurs in south sudan's war economy within wider debates on African political order, state formation, and institutional design. The paper is anchored in South Sudan, with comparative reference to other fragmented civil wars, and it uses the topic brief's theoretical architecture to ask three linked questions: what explains the proliferation of armed factions in south sudan from two principal belligerents in 2013 to over 40 registered armed groups by 2018 and what does this reveal about the internal political economy of rebel organisations? How do local commanders' economic interests in controlling cattle, gold, teak, and humanitarian supply chains drive fragmentation independently of national-level political negotiation? Under what conditions does international recognition through peace agreement inclusion, DDR registration, or humanitarian engagement inadvertently incentivise armed group formation? Methodologically, the article translates the proposed design into a publication-ready strategy built around armed group dataset construction from unmiss monitoring reports and acled (2013–2023); process tracing of fragmentation events; interview-based research with commanders of seven armed groups across greater upper nile and equatoria; application of agent-based modelling to simulate fragmentation dynamics.. It argues that the central analytical payoff lies not only in better explanation of the South Sudanese or regional cases, b
Telecom Companies and Government Surveillance in Africa
This article examines Telecom Companies and Government Surveillance in Africa: A South Sudan Case Study with a focused emphasis on South Sudan within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a policy brief that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Copyright (c) 2024 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Night Commuting and Civilian Coping Strategies in Conflict-Affected Areas
This article examines Night Commuting and Civilian Coping Strategies in Conflict-Affected Areas with a focused emphasis on Egypt within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a mixed methods study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Copyright (c) 2022 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
This article examines Security Cooperation Agreements: Bilateral Defence Pacts and their Strategic Implications: Youth Perspectives and Intergenerational Justice with a focused emphasis on Seychelles within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a mixed methods study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Copyright (c) 2023 AJPolS-PolViol https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Copyright (c) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
This article examines Blood Diamonds and Conflict Financing: The Kimberley Process and Its Limitations: A Feminist Political Economy Approach with a focused emphasis on Guinea within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a policy brief that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
This article examines The Hybrid Court for South Sudan: Jurisdiction, Design Challenges, and Political Obstacles: Post-CPA and Beyond with a focused emphasis on South Sudan within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a qualitative study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
This article examines War Economies and Peace Economies: Structural Transformation at Conflict's End: Institutional Dimensions and Reform Pathways with a focused emphasis on Benin within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a theoretical framework article that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Copyright (c) 2021 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
This article examines Terrorism and Tourism: Security Impacts on East African Economies: Gender, Power, and Structural Constraints with a focused emphasis on Guinea-Bissau within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a qualitative study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Feminist Foreign Policy and African Women's Rights
This article examines Feminist Foreign Policy and African Women's Rights: International Norms and Local Uptake with a focused emphasis on Uganda within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a ethnographic study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Chieftaincy and Elected Local Government
This article examines Chieftaincy and Elected Local Government: Competing Authorities in Rural East Africa: A Critical Examination with a focused emphasis on Lesotho within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a policy brief that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Opposition Party Fragmentation in African Hybrid Regimes
This article examines Opposition Party Fragmentation in African Hybrid Regimes: Structural Constraints and Strategic Choices: Digital Transformation and Emerging Challenges with a focused emphasis on Senegal within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a book review that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Constitutional Term Limits and Presidential Tenure
This article examines Constitutional Term Limits and Presidential Tenure: Circumvention Strategies in African States: Applied to the Greater Horn of Africa with a focused emphasis on Eritrea within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a working paper that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Cross-Border Armed Groups and Sovereignty Challenges in the Ugandan-South Sudanese Borderlands
This article examines Cross-Border Armed Groups and Sovereignty Challenges in the Ugandan-South Sudanese Borderlands: An African Union Perspective with a focused emphasis on Uganda within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a survey research article that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Migrant Integration in Urban East African Contexts
This article examines Migrant Integration in Urban East African Contexts: Nairobi, Kampala, and Addis Ababa with a focused emphasis on Kenya within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a ethnographic study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
This article examines The Arrow Boys of Western Equatoria: Community Self-Defence and State Absence: Policy Implications for Fragile States with a focused emphasis on Uganda within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a working paper that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Telecommunications Surveillance and Political Dissent
This article examines Telecommunications Surveillance and Political Dissent: Monitoring of Opposition in East Africa: Theoretical Framework and Empirical Analysis with a focused emphasis on Morocco within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a qualitative study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
This article examines Post-Structuralism and African Politics: Discourse, Power, and the Construction of Political Reality with a focused emphasis on Ghana within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a survey research article that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
The African Diaspora and Foreign Policy Influence
This article examines The African Diaspora and Foreign Policy Influence: Lobbying, Remittances, and Transnational Advocacy: An Empirical Investigation with a focused emphasis on Malawi within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a ethnographic study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Decolonial Political Theory and African Governance
This article examines Decolonial Political Theory and African Governance: Beyond Eurocentric Paradigms: Lessons for Sub-Saharan Africa with a focused emphasis on Nigeria within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a mixed methods study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Non-State Armed Groups and International Diplomacy
This article examines Non-State Armed Groups and International Diplomacy: Recognition, Negotiation, and Legitimacy: A Critical Examination with a focused emphasis on Djibouti within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a working paper that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Military Operations Against Insurgencies
This article examines Military Operations Against Insurgencies: Tactical Success and Strategic Failure in Africa: Political Economy Dimensions with a focused emphasis on Egypt within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a qualitative study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Parliamentary Debates as Political Communication
This article examines Parliamentary Debates as Political Communication: Discourse Analysis of East African Legislatures: Human Rights and Governance Considerations with a focused emphasis on Comoros within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a qualitative study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
This article examines Local Integration as a Durable Solution: Political Feasibility and Community Acceptance: Implications for Regional Integration with a focused emphasis on Zimbabwe within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a policy analysis article that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Incumbent Advantage and Opposition Suppression in African Electoral Autocracies
This article examines Incumbent Advantage and Opposition Suppression in African Electoral Autocracies: Human Rights and Governance Considerations with a focused emphasis on Liberia within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a ethnographic study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
This article examines The Ombudsman Institution in Africa: Accountability, Reach, and Political Constraints: A Subaltern Perspective with a focused emphasis on Seychelles within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a commentary that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
Counter-Terrorism and Civil Liberties in Kenya
This article examines Counter-Terrorism and Civil Liberties in Kenya: The Anti-Terrorism Police Unit and Accountability: Human Rights and Governance Considerations with a focused emphasis on Kenya within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a qualitative study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
This article examines Telecom Companies and Government Surveillance in Africa: A South Sudan Case Study with a focused emphasis on South Sudan within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a action research study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.
This article examines Night Commuting and Civilian Coping Strategies in Conflict-Affected Areas with a focused emphasis on Morocco within the field of Political Science. It is structured as a ethnographic study that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.