COMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE NEW PUBLIC GOVERNANCE APPROACH IN CONFLICT MANAGEMENT: EVIDENCE FROM THE GAMBIA–CASAMANCE BORDER REGION

The study examines community perceptions of how the New Public Governance (NPG) approach is applied to conflict management in the Gambia–Casamance selected border villages of Darsilameh, Dimbaya, and Giboroh-Koto in the Kombo Central and Kombo East of the Gambia respectively. These communities have reportedly experienced communal land disputes, and cross-border insecurity. A qualitative case study design was adopted, with data collected from 35 community participants, and 30 security personnel from relevant security and government institutions. Data collection methods included one-on-one interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis. Thematic codes were developed and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) framework, supported by NVivo 12 software, to generate key themes and insights. The study addresses empirical gap-limited context-specific evidence from the Senegambia borderlands-and a conceptual gap relating to the integration of NPG principles with indigenous conflict management systems. Findings indicate that NPG enhances conflict management through networked collaboration, participatory governance, and the integration of indigenous practices such as joking relationships (sanankuyaa), which foster social cohesion and informal mediation. Cross-border cooperation, including joint patrols and institutional coordination, further strengthens mutual trust and positive security outcomes. However, the effectiveness of NPG is constrained by elite dominance, resource limitations, and institutional fragmentation. The study highlights the need for more inclusive governance structures, stronger sub-regional policy harmonization, and safeguards against elite capture. It concludes that hybrid governance models-combining formal institutional frameworks with culturally embedded practices-offer a more sustainable approach to conflict management in fragile border contexts.