The Impact of Regional Stabilization Deployments on Civilian Security: A Comparative Analysis of Sub-Regional Force Operations

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 16, No. 7, July 2026 | pp. 55–63

DOI: 10.46882/2026/GJPCS/160701

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: The Impact of Regional Stabilization Deployments on Civilian Security: A Comparative Analysis of Sub-Regional Force Operations

Authors: Sibusiso K. Khumalo¹, Amanuel T. Mengistu²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Public Law, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; ²Institute for Peace and Security Studies, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract:
Sub-regional military interventions in highly fractured security landscapes frequently operate under complex command structures that alter civilian security outcomes and shift structural conflict trajectories. This paper evaluates the operational effectiveness of multinational stabilization deployments, focusing on the structural limits of joint border defense versus centralized military concentration models. Drawing on field data and key informant interviews with 44 local community leaders and international aid workers, we analyze the tactical constraints limiting regional counter-insurgency operations. The findings reveal that while concentrated joint border operations protect major cross-border commercial hubs, they leave remote communities exposed to predatory militia raids. Statistical analysis indicates that rural agrarian sectors dependent on distant static security garrisons report a 48% higher rate of forced civilian displacements following asymmetric skirmishes. The study demonstrates that a lack of harmonized communications infrastructure, combined with severe logistical supply blockades, prevents proactive patrolling beyond designated transit roads. We conclude that enhancing civilian safety requires transforming regional security frameworks to prioritize highly mobile, decentralized tactical units.

Keywords: Stabilization Deployments; Sub-Regional Forces; Civilian Security; Counter-Insurgency; Command Architectures; Tactical Constraints.

Manuscript Timeline: Received: August 02, 2024; Revised: October 20, 2024; Accepted: January 05, 2025; Published: July 18, 2026

Citation: Khumalo, S. K., & Mengistu, A. T. (2026). The Impact of Regional Stabilization Deployments on Civilian Security: A Comparative Analysis of Sub-Regional Force Operations. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 16(7), 55–63. DOI: 10.46882/2026/GJPCS/160701

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