Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 12, No. 8, August 2021 | pp. 64–72

DOI: 10.46882/2021/GJPCS/120801

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: The Geopolitics of Sovereign Communications Interception: Assessing the Impact of Commercial Mass-Surveillance Inversions on Public Information Networks

Authors: Alexei V. Volkov¹, Nadia M. Al-Shari²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Information Security, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia; ²School of Computing and Informatics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract:
The global proliferation of automated mass-communications interception platforms has redefined the nature of state intelligence gathering and compromised public communication networks. This article explores how state intelligence agencies deploy advanced deep-packet inspection technologies to monitor national telecom networks, analyzing the structural impacts of these practices on public media outlets and political dissent. Using an analytical framework that combines network infrastructure routing maps with international human rights law, we analyze mass interception campaigns documented between 2019 and 2021 across multiple continents. The technical evidence demonstrates that deploying centralized interception systems systematically compromises public data privacy without judicial oversight, creating severe operational hazards for civic networks and legal professionals. Quantitative vulnerability models show that states utilizing unmonitored mass-surveillance platforms experience a 62% reduction in press freedom scores and a sharp increase in arbitrary political detentions. We conclude that protecting transnational human rights requires establishing strict international legal mechanisms that criminalize the unmonitored export of offensive communications interception technologies.

Keywords: Mass-Surveillance; Deep-Packet Inspection; Telecom Security; Democratic Dissent; Press Freedom; Technical Surveillance

Manuscript Timeline: Received: May 02, 2020; Revised: July 28, 2020; Accepted: October 05, 2020; Published: August 15, 2021

Citation: Volkov, A. V., & Al-Shari, N. M. (2021). The Geopolitics of Sovereign Communications Interception: Assessing the Impact of Commercial Mass-Surveillance Inversions on Public Information Networks. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 12(8), 64–72. DOI: 10.46882/2021/GJPCS/120801

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 12, No. 7, July 2021 | pp. 55–63

DOI: 10.46882/2021/GJPCS/120701

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: The Impact of UN Peacekeeping Mandates on Local Security: A Comparative Analysis of MINUSCA Operations in the Central African Republic

Authors: Jean-Louis Dupont¹, Marie-Therese Haddad²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Centre de Recherches Internationales, Sciences Po, Paris, France; ²Department of Conflict and Development Studies, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

Abstract:
The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) operates within an asymmetric security environment where peacekeepers face fluid alignments of non-state rebel groups. This paper evaluates the operational effectiveness of MINUSCA's civilian protection mandate, focusing on the structural limits of decentralized versus centralized force deployments from 2018 to 2020. Drawing on field data and key informant interviews with 44 local community leaders and international aid workers, we analyze the tactical constraints limiting UN deployments. The findings reveal that while centralized military deployments protect immediate urban centers, they leave remote diamond-mining regions exposed to predatory militia raids. Statistical analysis indicates that mining zones dependent on distant static peacekeeping garrisons report a 48% higher rate of rural civilian displacements following localized skirmishes. The study demonstrates that a risk-averse command culture, combined with severe vehicle maintenance backlogs, prevents proactive patrolling beyond major cities. We conclude that enhancing civilian safety requires transforming peacekeeping frameworks to prioritize highly mobile, decentralized tactical units.

Keywords: MINUSCA; Peacekeeping Operations; Protection of Civilians; Central African Republic; Asymmetric Warfare; Rebel Groups

Manuscript Timeline: Received: April 15, 2020; Revised: July 05, 2020; Accepted: September 18, 2020; Published: July 18, 2021

Citation: Dupont, J. L., & Haddad, M. T. (2021). The Impact of UN Peacekeeping Mandates on Local Security: A Comparative Analysis of MINUSCA Operations in the Central African Republic. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 12(7), 55–63. DOI: 10.46882/2021/GJPCS/120701

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 12, No. 6, June 2021 | pp. 46–54

DOI: 10.46882/2021/GJPCS/120601

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Youth Radicalization, Cross-Border Refugee Settlements, and the Structural Limits of Modern De-Radicalization Models in East Africa

Authors: Fatuma Hussein¹, John L. Deng²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Sociology and Social Work, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya; ²Institute for Peace, Development and Security Studies, University of Juba, Juba, South Sudan

Abstract:
This study investigates the structural dynamics of violent extremist recruitment within protracted cross-border refugee camps in East Africa, evaluating the long-term efficacy of international rehabilitation and counter-radicalization initiatives. Employing a qualitative policy review paired with detailed behavioral case assessments of 74 young residents, we analyze how marginalized border camp environments function as spaces for radical ideological transmission. The empirical evidence demonstrates that overcrowding, severe restrictions on refugee employment, and abusive state policing practices create an environment where vulnerable, non-violent youths are easily integrated into extremist networks. Quantitative indicators establish that camp zones relying primarily on high-security police surveillance show a 55% higher re-recruitment rate among young returnees compared to settlements integrating community-led vocational projects. The research highlights how current counter-radicalization frameworks fail because they focus heavily on theological re-education while ignoring the structural drivers of alienation: widespread economic exclusion and statelessness. We conclude that sustainable security sector reform requires expanding legal employment freedoms for displaced populations.

Keywords: Youth Radicalization; Refugee Settlements; East Africa; De-Radicalization; Security Sector Reform; Economic Exclusion

Manuscript Timeline: Received: March 02, 2020; Revised: June 10, 2020; Accepted: August 14, 2020; Published: June 15, 2021

Citation: Hussein, F., & Deng, J. L. (2021). Youth Radicalization, Cross-Border Refugee Settlements, and the Structural Limits of Modern De-Radicalization Models in East Africa. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 12(6), 46–54. DOI: 10.46882/2021/GJPCS/120601

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 12, No. 5, May 2021 | pp. 37–45

DOI: 10.46882/2021/GJPCS/120501

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: The Political Economy of Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Assessing the Impact of Commercial Forestry Concessions on Indigenous Dispossession in Liberia

Authors: Sibusiso K. Khumalo¹, Elena Rostova²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Public Law, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; ²Department of International Relations, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom

Abstract:
Post-conflict states frequently prioritize selling natural resource concessions to attract foreign direct investment and generate immediate tax revenues for state rebuilding projects. This paper examines the long-term socioeconomic outcomes of this economic strategy in post-war Liberia, evaluating how large-scale commercial timber contracts affect traditional indigenous land holdings and community stability. Utilizing extensive agrarian mapping applications combined with localized household wealth indicators collected between 2018 and 2020, we measure structural shifts in forest land ownership. The quantitative analysis reveals that state allocations of dense forest concessions to foreign timber corporations have displaced substantial numbers of indigenous families, creating deep-seated socio-economic grievances. Our regression models establish that rural districts with high logging concession concentration show a 42% increase in localized land use disputes and lower relative deprivation metrics. The study demonstrates that prioritizing elite-driven commercial investment without protecting traditional communal land tenure accelerates rural displacement. We argue that sustainable post-conflict reconstruction requires establishing independent land tribunals that enforce communal property protections.

Keywords: Political Economy; Forestry Concessions; Liberia; Indigenous Dispossession; Land Tenure; Structural Inequality

Manuscript Timeline: Received: February 15, 2020; Revised: May 12, 2020; Accepted: July 05, 2020; Published: May 20, 2021

Citation: Khumalo, S. K., & Rostova, E. (2021). The Political Economy of Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Assessing the Impact of Commercial Forestry Concessions on Indigenous Dispossession in Liberia. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 12(5), 37–45. DOI: 10.46882/2021/GJPCS/120501

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 12, No. 4, April 2021 | pp. 28–36

DOI: 10.46882/2021/GJPCS/120401

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: The Infrastructure of Illicit Pharmaceutical Proliferation: Tracking Counterfeit Trafficking Networks in the Gulf of Guinea

Authors: Purity W. Kamau¹, Chantal M. Biya²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹School of Law, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; ²Department of Sociology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract:
The rapid expansion of transnational counterfeit pharmaceutical supply lines across porous maritime corridors remains a primary structural driver of public health insecurity and economic destabilization in coastal West Africa. This article maps out the clandestine logistics networks through which illegal medical shipments are introduced into domestic markets, tracking how these operations exploit weak seaport regulations. Utilizing a maritime transport-tracking framework combined with chemical validation registries of seized contraband collected between 2019 and 2020, we examine the supply loops connecting international distributors to local brokers. The empirical evidence demonstrates that transnational syndicates exploit fragmented container scanning systems and corrupted customs authorities to traffic low-grade medications. Quantitative tracking reveals that seaport hubs operating without integrated international cargo verification linkages face a 68% higher rate of black-market distribution and localized prescription exploitation. The research highlights the failure of reactive local police raids to disrupt these decentralized supply networks. We conclude that stopping illicit pharmaceutical proliferation requires establishing joint maritime monitoring systems alongside automated chemical verification protocols.

Keywords: Pharmaceutical Proliferation; Counterfeit Contraband; Gulf of Guinea; Seaport Security; Transnational Logistics; Customs Regulation

Manuscript Timeline: Received: January 08, 2020; Revised: April 15, 2020; Accepted: June 02, 2020; Published: April 12, 2021

Citation: Kamau, P. W., & Biya, C. M. (2021). The Infrastructure of Illicit Pharmaceutical Proliferation: Tracking Counterfeit Trafficking Networks in the Gulf of Guinea. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 12(4), 28–36. DOI: 10.46882/2021/GJPCS/120401

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