Contents
1 IntroduetionrBigManFolitiesandFost-ConflietSierraLeone........................................................... 130
2 Methodology..................................................................................................................................
1313 Big Man Patrimonial Politics......................................................................................................... 132
4 Former Child Soldiers and the Motorbike Taxi Industry in Sierra Leone..................................... 134
5 BigmanityNetworksintheRiderIndustryiKeyPlayersandNodes.................................................... 136
5.1 The Bike Riders Associations (BRAs)............................................................................. 137
5.2 BikeOwners.......................................................................................................................... 137
5.3 FoliceandTrafficWardens..................................................................................................... 138
6 Carving a Livelihood in Post-conflict Sierra Leone: The Benefits of Bike Riding..................... 138
6.1 Post-conflict Survival and Livelihoods............................................................................... 138
6.2 Protection and Solidarity..................................................................................................... 140
7 Big Men Extortion, Small Men Frustration: The Perils of Bike Riding....................................... 143
8 Conclusion..................................................................................................................................... 146
References............................................................................................................................................ 146
Abstract
Former child soldiers in post-conflict urban Sierra Leone contend with a complex social context characterized by stigma, marginalization, and patrimonial politics.
While these challenges have rendered it difficult for youth to achieve sustainable livelihoods, many have overcome such barriers by joining and building their own economic and social networks. Okada riding (i.e., motorbike taxi riding) is a case in point. As an emerging economic sector in Sierra Leone's urban centers, the Okada industry has offered numerous former child soldiers' avenues through which to achieve economic security and social support. While the industry has proved integral for many youth's reintegration into post-conflict society, “Big Men's” autocratic power over the industry has entrapped manyA. Buccitelli (*) • M. Denov
School of Social Work, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
e-mail: andi.bueeitelli@megill.ea; myriam.denov@mcgill.ca
© Crown Copyright 2017 129
C. Harker et al. (eds.), Conflict, Violence and Peace, Geographies of Children and YoungPeople 11, DOI 10.1007/978-981-287-038-4_21 youth into hierarchical clientelist relationships. Based on 14 interviews with former child soldiers turned riders, the present study seeks to explore the ways in which they negotiate the Okada taxi rider sector in urban Sierra Leone. The study reveals the potential opportunities for reintegration and challenges arising from a former child soldier-led socioeconomic initiative. Implications for future research and practice are outlined.
Keywords
Former child soldiers • Sierra Leone • Big Men • Okada riding
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