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Moving Through Conflict

Transit Migration and Rebel Capacity in Mali

Bibliographic Data

ID10071599
AuthorsOle Sevrin Nydal (0000-0003-2607-1192, University of Oslo, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume68
Issue4
Pages673-702
Publication date2023-05-24
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Conflict Resolution (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-0027 • E-ISSN: 1552-8766
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00220027231177587
OpenAlexW4377966465
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited56

How do rebel organizations capitalize on transit migration? While numerous studies have examined the role of refugees, this article explores a broader yet significant category of mobile populations in civil conflict. Focusing on Mali, I argue that transit migration increases rebel capacity based on three causal mechanisms: Obstacles in transit, camping banditry, and dynamic recruitment. Obstacles are an enabling mechanism by facilitating the intersection between rebels and migrants. As camping bandits, rebels move between violent extortion and systematic exploitation depending on levels of competition. Finally, I argue that rebels recruit transit migrants using dynamic strategies, including coercive incentives and short-term contracts in which social and ideological requirements are relaxed. Combining quantitative analysis with original interview data, I find significant support for the causal argument and preliminary evidence for my conceptual framework. The findings improve our understanding of rebel organizations and the role of mobile populations in civil conflict

Argument (complex analysis · Civil Conflict · Competition (biology · Development economics · Economics · Extortion · Geography · Ideology · Incentive · Internal conflict · Intersection (aeronautics · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Refugee · Sociology · International Development and Aid · Law · Political Conflict and Governance · Religion, Society, and Development

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Unique citing works1
Citations per year1
Citation span2026 - 2026 (1)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 1
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