Description
West African regions, particularly Nigeria's ungoverned spaces, face ongoing instability despite long-standing UN peace interventions. These interventions, primarily shaped by global protocols, have often been criticised for a lack of adaptability and sensitivity to local contexts, reducing their effectiveness in addressing region-specific security threats like Boko Haram insurgencies. This research explores indigenous governance frameworks as viable alternatives, analysing how community-led initiatives in Nigeria for instance localised patrol groups and neighbourhood watch units offer culturally resonant, flexible responses to security issues. These local frameworks often operate effectively because they prioritise rapid, context-specific actions aligned with community norms, which the UN’s standardised approaches have struggled to achieve. Employing a qualitative content analysis methodology, the study will examine policy documents, case studies, and interviews with local stakeholders to understand the strengths of these grassroots solutions. The research will assess how these initiatives not only provide immediate protection but also contribute to community resilience and trust in local governance, a key element often overlooked by international interventions. Insights from this research aim to challenge the one-size-fits-all model of UN frameworks by highlighting the value of contextually aligned approaches that empower local actors to lead peacekeeping and development efforts. This study advocates for informed UN policy adjustments that enhance the integration of both international support and local leadership, ultimately promoting a more sustainable, community-driven path to peace and security in West Africa.
Keywords: Indigenous governance, West African security, UN intervention limitations, local alternatives, cultural alignment
