Evaluating Inclusive Peace Processes: The Strategic Role of Youth-Led Civil Associations in Post-Conflict Sierra Leone

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 12, No. 3, March 2021 | pp. 19–27

DOI: 10.46882/2021/GJPCS/120301

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Evaluating Inclusive Peace Processes: The Strategic Role of Youth-Led Civil Associations in Post-Conflict Sierra Leone

Authors: Kofi Kwakwa¹, Marcus T. Vance²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana; ²Center for Development and Emergency Practice, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom

Abstract:
While contemporary international security resolutions advocate for youth inclusion in peacebuilding, formal reconstruction initiatives routinely exclude local youth networks from high-level decision-making platforms. This paper evaluates the long-term structural impacts of youth-led community associations on the institutional durability and social cohesion of post-conflict Sierra Leone. Utilizing a mixed-methods research framework, we combine archival analysis of municipal development policies with semi-structured field interviews of 62 localized community mediators from 2018 to 2020. The empirical findings indicate that the early integration of grassroots youth councils was critical for introducing structural inclusion policies—such as equitable artisanal mining licensing and community-led dispute mediation—into local government frameworks. Quantitative metrics establish that rural districts featuring active youth-led leadership setups report a 38% lower incidence of recurring land tenure disputes and localized miner clashes. The study demonstrates that elite-centric economic models fail to prevent localized conflict when they exclude younger populations from property ownership. We conclude that sustainable political transitions require institutionalizing binding youth representation within all national economic planning boards.

Keywords: Inclusive Peace; Youth Councils; Sierra Leone; Structural Inclusion; Land Tenure; Grassroots Mediation

Manuscript Timeline: Received: December 10, 2019; Revised: March 05, 2020; Accepted: May 22, 2020; Published: March 15, 2021

Citation: Kwakwa, K., & Vance, M. T. (2021). Evaluating Inclusive Peace Processes: The Strategic Role of Youth-Led Civil Associations in Post-Conflict Sierra Leone. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 12(3), 19–27. DOI: 10.46882/2021/GJPCS/120301

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