This volume critically engages with the phenomenon of civil militias in Africa. It questions why the African political scene is increasingly inundated with the activities of civil militias, examines the socio-political and economic conditions that trigger and/or encourage and sustain the operations of civil militias, and investigates the dominant motivations of African civil militias.

Contents: Introduction, David J. Francis; Militias as a social phenomenon: towards a theoretical construction, Gani Joses Yoroms; The Kamajor Militia in Sierra Leone: liberators or Nihilists?, Joe Alie; The Egbesu and Bakassi boys: African spiritism and the mystical re-traditionalisation of security, Kenneth Omeje; Civil militias: Indonesia and Nigeria in comparative perspective, Ruben Thorning; Civil militias: threats to national and human security in West Africa, Istifanus Zabadi; Counter-insurgents or ethnic vanguards? civil militia and State violence in the Darfur Region, Western Sudan, Usman Tar; The 'Anti-Gang' civil militia in Cameroon and the threat to national and human security, Cage Banseka; Civil militias and militarisation of society in the Horn of Africa, Belachew Gebrewold; Protracted Civil War, civil militias and political transition in Uganda since 1986, A. Byaruhanga Rukooko; Mayi Mayi and Interahamwe Militias: threats to peace and security in the Great Lakes region, Mucharia Munene; Civil defence forces and challenges to post-conflict security challenges: international experiences and implications for Africa, Jeremy Ginifer and Hooman Peimani; Index.