Review Article
Role of Political Leaders to Resolve International Conflicts: Comparing President Barack Obama and President Paul Kagame
Antoine K. Nyagatoma*
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 1, March 2026
Pages:
1-8
Received:
13 December 2025
Accepted:
25 December 2025
Published:
19 January 2026
Abstract: International conflict is not an unintended outcome of the global system; it is primarily the result of leadership decisions that prioritise force, prestige, and unilateral authority over conversation, negotiation, and collective responsibility. Political leaders play a critical role in determining whether conflicts escalate into violence or become chances for cooperation and peace. This study is based on the premise that leadership is the fundamental cause of both conflict and conflict resolution in international relationships. The goal of this research is to critically explore the role of political leaders in resolving global conflicts through nonviolent, diplomatic means, while also highlighting the adverse effects of leadership failure. The study examines the causes and dynamics of international conflict, its negative social, economic, and humanitarian consequences, and leadership's ability to break cycles of violence. The study takes a qualitative, comparative methodological approach, drawing on historical analysis, secondary literature, and selected case studies, with a focus on the leadership of President Barack Obama of the United States and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda. The analysis indicates that wars and protracted conflicts are overwhelmingly started and sustained by leaders who misinterpret threats, act unilaterally, or prioritize narrow national interests over global security. In contrast, the data show that decisive, principled, and forward-thinking leadership can break down entrenched antagonism. The normalisation of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba under President Obama, as well as the reconciliation process between Rwanda and France under President Kagame, demonstrate that acknowledging historical responsibility, fostering strategic dialogue, and establishing political courage can successfully resolve long-standing conflicts. The article categorically finds that long-term peace is not achieved through military supremacy, deterrence, or institutional rhetoric, but rather through moral leadership, diplomatic engagement, and respect for human dignity. Political leaders are thus more than just actors in international conflict; they are the primary builders. Their willingness—or failure—to take decisive action for peace determined whether the world system devolved into violence or moved towards long-term stability.
Abstract: International conflict is not an unintended outcome of the global system; it is primarily the result of leadership decisions that prioritise force, prestige, and unilateral authority over conversation, negotiation, and collective responsibility. Political leaders play a critical role in determining whether conflicts escalate into violence or become...
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Research Article
Policy Deficits and the Arms Dilemma: Examining Small Arms Proliferation and Security Threats in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 1, March 2026
Pages:
9-29
Received:
4 January 2026
Accepted:
19 January 2026
Published:
30 January 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.jpsir.20260901.12
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Abstract: The proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs) has emerged as a major driver of insecurity across the BAY States of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, exacerbating violent conflicts, criminal activities, and community displacement. The study examined the prevalence, risk factors, and impacts of SALWs proliferation on internal security, as well as the effectiveness of existing government policies and potential strategies to curb illicit arms circulation. A systematic mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating quantitative and qualitative techniques to ensure methodological triangulation and robust findings. Quantitative data were collected from 395 respondents through structured questionnaires, while qualitative insights were obtained from 30 key informants via in-depth interviews, including security personnel, community leaders, and civil society actors. The results indicate that SALWs proliferation remains alarmingly high, with over two-thirds of respondents reporting increased availability and widespread access in their communities. The result indicates that there is a statistically significant and positive relationship between all the identified risk-factors: unemployment and poverty (χ2 = 276.78, p < 0.001), ineffective border management (χ2 = 212.05, p < 0.001), communal violence (χ2 = 226.05, p < 0.001), corruption (χ2 = 348.66, p < 0.001), and political instability (χ2 = 231.27, p < 0.001)—have a statistically significant and positive relationship with the prevalence of SALWs proliferation in the BAY States. The result further revealed that SALWs proliferation has a significant and multidimensional negative effect on internal security, manifesting in violent conflicts, criminality, displacement, and the erosion of state authority. The result also revealed that there is a statistically significant and negative relationship between implementation challenges and the effectiveness of arms control policies, confirming that arms control policies were largely perceived as ineffective due to poor enforcement, institutional fragmentation, and policy gaps. The study concludes that SALWs proliferation in the BAY States is sustained by a complex interplay of socio-economic, institutional, and political factors, posing severe threats to internal security. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the government strengthen border security, enhance inter-agency coordination, enforce firearms laws strictly, implement youth-focused economic empowerment programs, and engage communities through awareness campaigns and collaborative disarmament initiatives. These measures are critical to curbing illicit arms circulation and fostering sustainable security in the region.
Abstract: The proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs) has emerged as a major driver of insecurity across the BAY States of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, exacerbating violent conflicts, criminal activities, and community displacement. The study examined the prevalence, risk factors, and impacts of SALWs proliferation on internal security, as well as...
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