Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 6, No. 8, August 2015 | pp. 496–504

DOI: 10.46882/2015/GJPCS/000077

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Indigenous Conflict Resolution Frameworks: Evaluating Restorative Efficacy in Post-Conflict Communities

Names of Authors: Agnes Arach¹, Chinedu Okechukwu²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Faculty of Peace and Strategic Studies, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda; ²Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

Abstract: Abstract: Top-down international legal interventions often struggle to foster grassroots community reconciliation in societies recovering from prolonged, deeply rooted civil conflicts. This study evaluates the structural efficacy of localized restorative justice frameworks practiced across post-conflict communities in East and West Africa. Using a qualitative case study design, we conducted 34 semi-structured interviews with traditional elders, conflict survivors, and civil society leaders, alongside 8 focus group discussions. The thematic analysis shows that indigenous frameworks succeeded in resolving local community disputes where formal international courts lacked accessibility and cultural legitimacy. The research indicates that communities utilizing traditional reconciliation rituals reported 40% higher baseline social integration scores among ex-combatants than communities relying solely on formal legal courts. However, structural challenges remain, including the historical marginalization of youth perspectives and a lack of legal integration within the national judiciary. The study demonstrates that traditional justice systems offer powerful mechanisms for community-level healing, but require formal legal recognition to prevent institutional fragmentation.

Keywords: Indigenous Justice, Restorative Frameworks, Community Reconciliation, Cultural Legitimacy, Ex-Combatant Reintegration, Peacebuilding Rituals, Hybrid Governance

Manuscript Timeline: Received: March 15, 2015; Revised: May 20, 2015; Accepted: June 19, 2015; Published: August 05, 2015

Citation: Arach, A., & Okechukwu, C. (2015). Indigenous Conflict Resolution Frameworks: Evaluating Restorative Efficacy in Post-Conflict Communities. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 6(8), 496–504. DOI: 10.46882/2015/GJPCS/000077

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 6, No. 7, July 2015 | pp. 487–495

DOI: 10.46882/2015/GJPCS/000076

Article Type: Policy Analysis Paper

Title: UN Peacekeeping Mandates and Civilian Protection: Analyzing Strategic Vulnerabilities in Transnational Deployments

Names of Authors: Jean-Luc Kabange¹, Kofi Mensah²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of International Relations, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo; ²Department of History and Strategic Studies, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract: Abstract: The systemic gap between formal United Nations civilian protection mandates and operational execution on the ground remains a major challenge in modern peacekeeping. This policy analysis evaluates the strategic performance and operational constraints of large-scale international peacekeeping deployments in highly volatile environments. By analyzing threat matrix databases, civilian casualty trends, and operational field directives from 2010 to 2014, this paper examines the structural obstacles to proactive civilian protection. The assessment indicates that vast geographic areas, combined with a lack of tactical transport assets, leave peacekeeping forces unable to respond quickly to asymmetric rebel attacks. Quantitative analysis indicates that the average response time to rural security alerts was 14 ± 4 hours, which significantly limits the operational deterrent effect on armed groups. The analysis identifies key structural gaps, including poor community-level intelligence sharing, unclear rules of engagement regarding preemptive force, and fragmented institutional command structures. This paper recommends creating specialized regional rapid-deployment units backed by local early warning communication networks to improve protection capabilities.

Keywords: UN Peacekeeping, Civilian Protection, Operational Gaps, Strategic Vulnerabilities, Human Security, Armed Conflict, Command Structures

Manuscript Timeline: Received: February 19, 2015; Revised: April 24, 2015; Accepted: May 28, 2015; Published: July 19, 2015

Citation: Kabange, J. L., & Mensah, K. (2015). UN Peacekeeping Mandates and Civilian Protection: Analyzing Strategic Vulnerabilities in Transnational Deployments. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 6(7), 487–495. DOI: 10.46882/2015/GJPCS/000076

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 6, No. 6, June 2015 | pp. 478–486

DOI: 10.46882/2015/GJPCS/000075

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Transitional Justice and Property Restitution: Evaluating Housing Reclamation Models in Divided Societies

Names of Authors: Mirela Hasanovic¹, Goran Pasic²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; ²Department of Sociology, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract: Abstract: Property restitution is widely recognized as a cornerstone of transitional justice, vital for reversing ethnic cleansing and fostering sustainable refugee returns. This study empirically examines the long-term socio-political outcomes of housing reclamation frameworks in deeply divided societies. Utilizing property tracking databases alongside a field survey of 520 returnee households, we assessed housing recovery rates and inter-ethnic trust scores. The quantitative models demonstrate that while formal legal property restitution achieved an unprecedented 93% success rate, actual long-term residential sustainability remains low. Statistical correlations indicate that local economic disparities and regional employment discrimination have a strong negative relationship with sustainable return rates (r = -0.61, p < 0.001). The empirical evidence reveals that many returnees reclaimed their legal property titles only to sell or lease them, driven by deep-seated institutional insecurity and a lack of local economic opportunities. This research concludes that legal property restitution fails to foster genuine reconciliation unless accompanied by targeted regional economic development and robust anti-discrimination protections.

Keywords: Property Restitution, Transitional Justice, Refugee Return, Divided Societies, Housing Reclamation, Institutional Insecurity, Community Reconciliation

Manuscript Timeline: Received: January 10, 2015; Revised: March 15, 2015; Accepted: April 22, 2015; Published: June 04, 2015

Citation: Hasanovic, M., & Pasic, G. (2015). Transitional Justice and Property Restitution: Evaluating Housing Reclamation Models in Divided Societies. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 6(6), 478–486. DOI: 10.46882/2015/GJPCS/000075

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 6, No. 5, May 2015 | pp. 469–477

DOI: 10.46882/2015/GJPCS/000074

Article Type: Review Paper

Title: Conceptualizing Cyber Warfare in International Law: A Critical Review of Transnational Digital Sovereignty

Names of Authors: Hans-Dieter Schmidt¹, Alistair Vance²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Institute for International Peace and Security Law, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; ²Center for Cyber Security Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States

Abstract: Abstract: The globalization of digital infrastructures has transformed modern strategic defense doctrines, introducing state-sponsored cyber operations into contemporary security paradigms. This review paper evaluates the legal and conceptual frameworks used to classify cyber operations as uses of force under international law, with special emphasis on transboundary digital sovereignty. By synthesizing legal literature, state declarations, and technical case studies published from 2007 to 2014, we examine how traditional principles of sovereignty, proportionality, and distinction translate into digital spaces. The review indicates that existing legal mechanisms are insufficient for handling asymmetric cyber tactics, primarily due to the technical difficulties of real-time attribution and the lack of physical violence markers. Statistical analyses of international cyber incidents show that attribution delays average 184 ± 25 days, severely undermining immediate defensive justification claims. The paper highlights a critical regulatory gap regarding low-intensity, non-kinetic state cyber operations that systematically degrade critical national infrastructure without triggering armed conflict thresholds. The analysis concludes by proposing an updated legal framework that defines state responsibility based on the systemic severity of digital infrastructure disruption.

Keywords: Cyber Warfare, International Law, Digital Sovereignty, Critical Infrastructure, Attribution Challenges, Non-Kinetic Aggression, Threat Frameworks

Manuscript Timeline: Received: December 05, 2014; Revised: February 14, 2015; Accepted: March 19, 2015; Published: May 12, 2015

Citation: Schmidt, H. D., & Vance, A. (2015). Conceptualizing Cyber Warfare in International Law: A Critical Review of Transnational Digital Sovereignty. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 6(5), 469–477. DOI: 10.46882/2015/GJPCS/000074

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 6, No. 4, April 2015 | pp. 460–468

DOI: 10.46882/2015/GJPCS/000073

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: The Psychological Legacy of Child Soldiering: Longitudinal Rehabilitation Outcomes in Post-Conflict Zones

Names of Authors: Sahr Mathew Kamara¹, Agnes Arach²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Psychology, Fourah Bay College, Freetown, Sierra Leone; ²Faculty of Peace and Strategic Studies, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda

Abstract: Abstract: The reintegration of former child soldiers into post-conflict communities is a deeply complex psychological and sociological challenge. This study presents a longitudinal evaluation of psychological rehabilitation outcomes among 250 former child combatants five years after the completion of formal disarmament programs. Mental health outcomes were evaluated using standardized clinical instruments measuring Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and social adjustment. The psychological testing shows that high levels of trauma symptoms persist, with 42% of participants meeting the clinical threshold for PTSD (Mean Score = 48.5 ± 6.2). Regression analysis confirms that community stigmatization and a lack of formal education options are the strongest predictors of prolonged psychological distress (R² = 0.51, p < 0.001). Conversely, participation in traditional community cleansing rituals was strongly associated with better social adaptation scores. The study demonstrates that western-centric clinical models must be closely paired with culturally grounded community practices to optimize healing. The paper highlights the critical need for long-term mental health funding that extends far beyond initial post-conflict disarmament timelines.

Keywords: Child Soldiers, Psychological Trauma, Reintegration, PTSD, Longitudinal Study, Community Healing, Psychosocial Rehabilitation

Manuscript Timeline: Received: November 12, 2014; Revised: January 18, 2015; Accepted: February 20, 2015; Published: April 09, 2015

Citation: Kamara, S. M., & Arach, A. (2015). The Psychological Legacy of Child Soldiering: Longitudinal Rehabilitation Outcomes in Post-Conflict Zones. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 6(4), 460–468. DOI: 10.46882/2015/GJPCS/000073

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 6, No. 3, March 2015 | pp. 451–459

DOI: 10.46882/2015/GJPCS/000072

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Climate Change, Pastoralist Migration, and Farmer-Herder Conflicts in Expanding Ecological Flashpoints

Names of Authors: Kwame Boateng¹, Abdi Yusuf²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Geography, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya; ²Institute for Peace and Security Studies, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract: Abstract: Accelerated climate change and resulting environmental degradation are rapidly reshaping resource availability, altering migratory routes and fueling conflicts across semi-arid regions. This research investigates the intensifying clashes between migratory pastoralists and sedentary farming communities within expanding ecological flashpoints. Using a longitudinal spatial analysis alongside 400 household surveys, we tracked rainfall deviations, vegetation loss, and conflict hotspots over a ten-year timeline. The empirical models confirm that a 15% drop in seasonal rainfall below the long-term historical mean triggers an immediate 30% increase in farmer-herder clashes over water access and grazing land. Spatial mapping shows that conflict zones are moving southward, tracking changing vegetation indices. The study identifies that traditional customary land-sharing arrangements are collapsing under the pressure of land privatization policies and ecological stress. The paper emphasizes that treating these disputes solely as security matters ignores the root environmental drivers. We recommend implementing flexible rangeland management policies, early warning weather systems, and collaborative land-use frameworks to defuse resource competition.

Keywords: Climate Change, Pastoralist Migration, Farmer-Herder Conflict, Resource Competition, Environmental Degradation, Spatial Analysis, Ecological Flashpoints

Manuscript Timeline: Received: October 14, 2014; Revised: December 15, 2014; Accepted: January 20, 2015; Published: March 05, 2015

Citation: Boateng, K., & Yusuf, A. (2015). Climate Change, Pastoralist Migration, and Farmer-Herder Conflicts in Expanding Ecological Flashpoints. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 6(3), 451–459. DOI: 10.46882/2015/GJPCS/000072