Insurgency Ecology of Africa

Abstract

The rising tide of insurgency in the 1990s in many parts of Africa is a new development in African political history. Sadly also, several regions in Africa are still under the threat of insurgency attack. Questions have been raised to decipher why insurgency still persists in Africa. The more the questions, the more elusive the answers on the reason for insurgents taking up arms against the state. Some Scholars argue that only extreme condition of frustration could tempt people to take such a risky venture. If the present trend of insurgency remains unchecked, the burden of its socio economic distress will be disastrous for the already weak states of Africa. The paper contends that in Africa, regime, government, and political party are intertwined, Thus, creating room for personalization of the state, itself a source of insurgency.  It concludes by indicting the state for being responsible for the creation of insurgency ecology, now assuming an ugly face in Africa’s political theatre.

Key words: Contested State, Regime Challengers and insurgency ecology