Secessionism in African Politics

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxiii

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2. Africa’s Secessionism: A Breakdance of Aspiration, Grievance, Performance, and Disenchantment

   • Mareike Schomerus, Pierre Englebert, Lotje de Vries

   Pages 1-20

3. Aspiration: Dreams of Independence

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 21-21

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   2. Tuareg Separatism in Mali and Niger

      • Baz Lecocq, Georg Klute

      Pages 23-57

   3. Anglophone Secessionist Movements in Cameroon

      • Piet Konings, Francis B. Nyamnjoh

      Pages 59-89

   4. Ethiopia, Somalia, and the Ogaden: Still a Running Sore at the Heart of the Horn of Africa

      • Sarah Vaughan

      Pages 91-123

4. Grievance: Postcolonial Confusion

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 125-125

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   2. Western Sahara and Morocco: Complexities of Resistance and Analysis

      • Matthew Porges

      Pages 127-149

   3. Secessionism in Anjouan, Comoros: Internal Dynamics, External Decisions

      • Gregor Dobler

      Pages 151-178

   4. Zanzibar in the Tanzania Union

      • Greg Cameron

      Pages 179-205

   5. The Front(s) for the Liberation of Cabinda in Angola: A Phantom Insurgency

      • Joseph Figueira Martin

      Pages 207-227

   6. Against the Grain: Somaliland’s Secession from Somalia

      • Markus Virgil Hoehne

      Pages 229-261

5. Performance: Secessionism as Politics by Other Means

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 263-263

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   2. The Mouvement des Forces Démocratiques de Casamance: The Illusion of Separatism in Senegal?

      • Vincent Foucher

      Pages 265-292

   3. United in Separation? Lozi Secessionism in Zambia and Namibia

      • Wolfgang Zeller, Henning Melber

      Pages 293-328

   4. Biafra and Secessionism in Nigeria: An Instrument of Political Bargaining

      • Johannes Harnischfeger

      Pages 329-359

   5. Katanga’s Secessionism in the Democratic Republic of Congo

      • Miles Larmer, Erik Kennes

      Pages 361-391

6. Disenchantment: The Aftermath of Success

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 393-393

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   2. “We Didn’t Fight for This”: The Pitfalls of State- and Nation-Building in Eritrea

      • Alexandra Dias, Sara Dorman

      Pages 395-422

   3. A State of Contradiction: Sudan’s Unity Goes South

      • Mareike Schomerus, Lotje de Vries

      Pages 423-454

Secessionism perseveres as a complex political phenomenon in Africa, yet often a more in-depth analysis is overshadowed by the aspirational simplicity of pursuing a new state. Using historical and contemporary approaches, this edited volume offers the most exhaustive collection of empirical studies of African secessionism to date. The respected expert contributors put salient and lesser known cases into comparative perspective, covering Biafra, Katanga, Eritrea and South Sudan alongside Barotseland, Cabinda, and the Comoros, among others. Suggesting that African secessionism can be understood through the categories of aspiration, grievance, performance, and disenchantment, the book's analytical framework promises to be a building block for future studies of the topic. 

• Secessionist movements have adapted their strategies
• Secessionism in Africa after South Sudan's independence
• Secessionism that reproduces post-colonial norms
• The legal evolution of secessionism in Africa
• Fundamental challenges to the post-colonial African order
• African Politics

“This book offers a vast compendium on secessionism on the African continent. Every single case is narrated in good detail and I find it a wonderful contribution to African Studies, International Relations, and studies of nationalism and conflict in general.” (Yusuf Serunkuma, African Affairs, Vol. 118 (472), July, 2019)

• Wageningen University & Research, De Bilt, The Netherlands

  Lotje de Vries

• Pomona College, Claremont, CA, USA

  Pierre Englebert

• Overseas Development Institute, London, UK

  Mareike Schomerus

Lotje de Vries is Assistant Professor at Wageningen University, the Netherlands.

Pierre Englebert is H. Russell Smith Professor of International Relations at Pomona College, USA.

Mareike Schomerus is Senior Research Fellow at Overseas Development Institute, UK.

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