The Reintegration of Women and Children Defecting from Armed Groups during Conflict: Evidence from Somalia

Abstract The public acceptance of former enemy collaborators by local communities is crucial for preventing violent extremism. Few studies experimentally examine such acceptance, particularly from a gendered perspective in active conflict zones. We address this gap by centering the diversity of the defector population, highlighting how gendered experiences of entry into and exit from armed groups affect opportunities for peacebuilding. We argue that both gender and age are important determinants of public acceptance, and that the narratives through which women are perceived—especially as wives—shape reintegration outcomes. We test these expectations with a vignette experiment involving 880 respondents across 81 communities in seven cities in South Central Somalia. We find that respondents are more willing to accept female and child defectors, with acceptance particularly high for those wedded to al-Shabaab fighters. These findings underscore the gendered and intersectional dynamics at play in reintegration and reconciliation processes, particularly in conservative Muslim societies, and suggest that the identities and social scripts attached to former enemy collaborators are central to understanding public attitudes toward peacebuilding in conflict-affected societies.