John-Mark Iyi – författare

The contributors to this book examine the conceptual issues relating to the link between conflict and poverty as well as presenting case studies of countries often regarded as ‘hot spots’ for conflict in Africa. They also explore the roles of regional and sub-regional bodies and institutions in addressing the causes of poverty and mitigating the impacts of conflict on vulnerable and marginalized groups.

Africa is often regarded as the epicentre of conflicts worldwide. Virtually every part of the continent is currently engulfed in one form of conflict or another. Beyond the loss of life, conflicts have brought untold hardship to millions and have derailed social and economic development on the continent. Written by African academics, this book is divided into three sections, the first of which discusses the factors that fuel conflicts and the nature and impacts of conflicts on vulnerable groups. The second section comprises case studies of South Sudan, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Africa, Uganda, and Cameroon. These countries are representative of the sub-regional dynamics of Africa – west, east, central, and south – reflecting the diversity of the continent. The final section examines the role of key institutions and bodies in Africa in mitigating the impact of conflict on the socioeconomic lives of the people in the region. Bodies discussed include the African Union, Economic Community of West African States, Southern African Development Community, and the East African Community.

The book will be an invaluable resource for researchers, academics and policymakers working in the areas of law, political science, human rights, peace studies, development studies, and African studies.

The contributors to this book examine the conceptual issues relating to the link between conflict and poverty as well as presenting case studies of countries often regarded as ‘hot spots’ for conflict in Africa. They also explore the roles of regional and sub-regional bodies and institutions in addressing the causes of poverty and mitigating the impacts of conflict on vulnerable and marginalized groups.

Africa is often regarded as the epicentre of conflicts worldwide. Virtually every part of the continent is currently engulfed in one form of conflict or another. Beyond the loss of life, conflicts have brought untold hardship to millions and have derailed social and economic development on the continent. Written by African academics, this book is divided into three sections, the first of which discusses the factors that fuel conflicts and the nature and impacts of conflicts on vulnerable groups. The second section comprises case studies of South Sudan, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Africa, Uganda, and Cameroon. These countries are representative of the sub-regional dynamics of Africa – west, east, central, and south – reflecting the diversity of the continent. The final section examines the role of key institutions and bodies in Africa in mitigating the impact of conflict on the socioeconomic lives of the people in the region. Bodies discussed include the African Union, Economic Community of West African States, Southern African Development Community, and the East African Community.

The book will be an invaluable resource for researchers, academics and policymakers working in the areas of law, political science, human rights, peace studies, development studies, and African studies.

This book focuses on Boko Haram and terrorism in Nigeria, framing the conflict in an international law context. It analyses the nature of political violence and the dominant roles of a violent nation-state (in both colonial and post-colonial experiences) and the rise of terrorism in Nigeria. The book unearths embedded evidence of religious nepotism on the part of state officials using such state institutions as Islamic Preaching Boards to promote one Islamic sect over another in mainly Muslim Northern Nigeria. The book offers insights into this subtle sectarian divide and how this and other ‘subterranean’ elements have contributed to the rise of Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria beyond the dominant poverty-terrorism nexus narrative.

Furthermore, the book analyses the various components of Boko Haram’s radical ideology, situates them in Islamic Jurisprudence, and examines the philosophy of the group (both in doctrine and practice) – their interpretation of the Koran and the waging of Jihad, and the extent to which they conform to the Islamic Sect Boko Haram claims to follow. The book then examines the basic doctrinal features and characteristics of Boko Haram – waging Jihad, prohibiting revealing dresses for women and mixing of genders, rejecting western values and institutions, denouncing scientific inquiry and democracy, hostage taking, sexual exploitation of captives and other aspects of jus ad bellum and jus in bello in Islamic jurisprudence and international law.

Finally, the book analyses the plight of vulnerable groups such as internally displaced persons, the atrocities committed against women and girls in the Boko Haram insurgency and the (in)ability of international law to enforce the protections offered to the victims. From the perspective of critical intellectual inquiry, the book also challenges a number of fundamental assumptions and encourages us to revisit our legal characterisation of certain concepts such as “gender-based crimes”. It then goes further to analyse some legal grey areas in the Boko Haram insurgency such as the legal status of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and the legal framework for holding members accountable for violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.

Overall, the book represents a valuable contribution to scholarship, deepens our understanding and delineates how international law could respond to the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria in particular and terrorism in Africa in general.