From rebellion to rule: Rebel group organisation and state-building in Africa

Abstract

This article examines how the wartime organisational structure of rebel groups influences their capacity for effective governance after conflict. It argues that groups with more developed hierarchical structures and ideological cohesion are better positioned to transition into capable political actors in the post-war period. Drawing on literature on rebel governance and state formation theory, the article employs comparative process tracing to analyse the relationship between wartime governance structures and post-conflict state-building. The analysis centres on three African cases with distinct organisational features and governance trajectories: the Somali National Movement (SNM), the de facto government authority in Somaliland; the hierarchically driven Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF); and Resistência Nacional Moçambicana (RENAMO) in Mozambique, which entered government through a negotiated settlement. The findings suggest that variation in internal organisational coherence and wartime governance experience significantly shape a group’s ability to influence political transitions and post-conflict governance effectiveness.