A risky return for ex-combatants into communities

The briefing examines the failures of state-led amnesty and reintegration processes for defectors from groups like Boko Haram and al-Shabaab in Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia, and Cameroon. It highlights how torture, extrajudicial killings, and a lack of transparency by security forces drive defectors away from official channels and toward civil society organisations or direct community return. Additionally, it notes that providing livelihood assets, such as motorcycles in Kenya or livestock in Cameroon, can spark community hostility and perceptions of favouritism.

• Government-led rehabilitation and reintegration programmes in Nigeria, Somalia, and Kenya are undermined by security forces who target and abuse former combatants, including reports of torture and extrajudicial killings of Boko Haram suspects in Nigeria.
• A lack of transparency and the prolonged detention of suspects in Nigeria and Kenya lead defectors from Boko Haram and al-Shabaab to avoid official government amnesty programmes and return directly to their communities.
• Livelihood support provided to defectors can cause community backlash; in Kenya, the provision of motorcycles to al-Shabaab defectors was viewed as 'favouritism', and in Cameroon, the distribution of livestock to Boko Haram militants triggered similar negative reactions.
• Civil society organisations are often better positioned than the state to manage demobilisation and reintegration due to their neutrality and trust within communities, though they face challenges from both governments and local populations.

APA

van Zyl, I. (n.d.). A risky return for ex-combatants into communities. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/a-risky-return-for-ex-combatants-into-communities

Chicago

van Zyl, Isel. A risky return for ex-combatants into communities. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/a-risky-return-for-ex-combatants-into-communities.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=van Zyl |first1=Isel |title=A risky return for ex-combatants into communities |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.org/iss-today/a-risky-return-for-ex-combatants-into-communities |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{vanzylndrisky, author = {van Zyl, Isel}, title = {{A risky return for ex-combatants into communities}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/iss-today/a-risky-return-for-ex-combatants-into-communities}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }