What is the cause of the rise of warlords in Africa? What are the common conditions that lead to their creation and destruction? This chapter by the University of Birmingham analyses governance in pre-colonial African empires, illustrating characteristics of governance which can be traced through the colonial and post-colonial periods. In addition, it explores approaches to conflict analysis and highlights the role of warlords in re-establishing stability.
The growth of warlords is associated with the increase of private, non-state actors in the security sector in Africa. A long-term view of political conflict in Africa reveals a link between pre-colonial warlord empires and the post-Cold War structures. Continuities identified include patrimonialism, use of magic by warlords to appeal to higher motives, need to provide an alternative legitimacy and ethnic ties. In addition, from pre-colonial through to post-colonial periods, characteristics linked with the collapse of central power, trade, private accumulation, use of violence and governance systems can be seen.
Conflict is motivated by economic reasons and understood through a number of alternative approaches:
- Lack of state control: As control is lost by the state, political actors construct alternative governance structures. This leads to a fragmentation of control over resources with local leaders taking over valuable commodities.
- Greed leads to conflict: This approach suggests societies are more prone to conflict when they offer more inviting prospects for rebellion. However, it ignores analysis based on political systems, historical factors and social transformations.
- Environmental scarcity leads to conflict: Similarly this approach ignores political influence over access to resources and the inability of aid to end conflict.
- Conflict is due to ethnic or tribal differences: Although, it could equally be suggested that conflicts may be due to lack of voice, exclusion and poverty.
- Wars are a result of social processes: This proposition details that greed and lack of resources are inadequate explanations for conflict as it is necessary to analyse social processes involved to gain a true understanding.
Therefore, in a situation of state collapse warlords attempt to re-establish stability through rebuilding patronage networks and enforcing contracts through violence.
- Warlords are not a new phenomenon and are common in societies which experience a decline in central control.
- Characteristics of warlords include: war aims revolving around economic issues, construction of alternative governance structures, use of violence and patrimony and the existence of a shared identity.
- Warlords represent the real power in many areas, with control of economic resources, arms and manpower. Current analysis of such groups neglects to analyse the internal dynamics, such as social issues and class relationships.
- Warlords offer security, rewards and stability at a local level, but do not offer long term stability. They offer a way out for many people living in areas with no alternatives.
- Change is possible through a long term commitment to state making, prevention of violence and most importantly, building legitimacy.
