Utilization of the New Public Governance Approach to Conflict Management: A Case Study of the Border Communities in Southern-Gambia

Abstract

This study examines the application of the New Public Governance (NPG) approach to conflict management in the border communities of Southern Gambia, where persistent land disputes, resource scarcity, and political tensions undermine local stability and development. The main aim is to investigate how NPG principles-emphasizing inclusive participation, networked governance, and bottom-up accountability-can offer a context-specific and sustainable framework for conflict management in fragile borderland contexts.
A qualitative case study design was employed, with data collected from 35 community members and 30 security officials in Brikama LGA and neighbouring border areas through interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis. Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-step thematic framework, supported by NVivo 15, guided the analysis.
Findings indicate that NPG enhances conflict management by integrating indigenous mechanisms, such as joking relationships (sanankuyaa, Jola-Fula-Serer), which foster cohesion, humour, and respect. Cross-border collaboration through joint patrols, training, and harmonized protocols builds trust and strengthens coordination among stakeholders. Community perceptions highlight that participatory dialogue, peace education, and cultural practices reinforce inter-ethnic cohesion, reconciliation, and shared identity. Strategies to strengthen NPG include improved infrastructure, secure communication, early warning systems, and livelihood initiatives such as cross-border markets and youth/women empowerment. Multi-level adaptive governance and hybrid councils further institutionalize inclusive conflict transformation. Despite these benefits, challenges persist, including complex socio-political dynamics, capacity gaps among traditional leaders, and uneven resource distribution, which limits the full realization of NPG’s potential.
This study is motivated by a critical research gap while prior research has examined conflict in the Senegambia borderlands; limited attention has been given to how a governance framework like NPG can operationalize local cultural mechanisms for sustainable conflict transformation. Addressing this gap can provide evidence-based strategies for policymakers, practitioners, and community actors to enhance peacebuilding in fragile border contexts.