‘Appraising the Efficacy of SADC in Resolving the 2014 Lesotho Conflict: Progress and Prospects’ presents an assessment of the efficacy of SADC’s intervention to resolve the Lesotho crisis, progress made so far and prospects for restoring peace and political stability. In ‘United Nations Security Council Reform: An African Perspective’ given the pressing need for conflict resolution on the African continent, there is a demand for more effective engagement between Africa and international organisations such as the UN, especially the UN Security Council (UNSC). But how effective can engagement be between a continent that is subject to so many conflicts and resolutions and a council where these countries have so little power? ‘The Kenyan State’s Fear of Somali Identity’ argues that the inability of the Kenyan state to distinguish between Somali Islamists and Kenyan-Somalis represents a missed opportunity at national integration. ‘Integrating Peacebuilding within Policy Frameworks in Post-conflict Settings: A Reflection on Liberia’s Peacebuilding Process’ intends to contribute to ongoing discussions on institutionalising peacebuilding, with a focus on Liberia. The article sets the premise that in order to foster the link between security and emergency programming, including longer-term development and sustained peace, especially in post-conflict countries, peacebuilding elements need to be infused into policies and programmes. ‘Burkina Faso: An Unforeseen Crisis?’ analyses the current political crises in Burkina Faso by highlighting the precursors and the lack of effective early response to forestall these crises. ‘Demystifying Extremism in Nigeria: Understanding the Dynamics of Boko Haram’ uses Boko Haram as a case study to uncover the remote and immediate causes of extremism in Nigeria. Furthermore, this article proffers that, to overcome the wave of extremism and to achieve sustainable peace in the region, there is an urgent need for peace education, and for building cultures that foster peace and non-violence. ‘Moving toward Constitutional Reform in Liberia: How Legitimate is the Process?’ examines the legitimacy of the Liberian constitutional reform process from 2012 to 2015, using the following normative elements (requirements) of legitimacy as a framework for analysis: inclusion, participation, transparency and consensus building. The periodical then concludes with a review on the book ‘Stronger than Justice: Armed Group Impunity for Sexual Violence.’
