Rural–urban connectivity strengthens agrarian peace: Evidence from a study of gender and motorcycle taxis in Sierra Leone

Rural-based insurgencies disrupted the forest margins of Upper West Africa in 1990s. A subsequent return to peace was accompanied by strong growth small-scale trade foodstuffs and other agrarian produce high demand towns. Motor cycle taxis are a feature this increased rural–urban market integration. It mode transport pioneered ex-combatants. Where rural women were once attacked young men without job prospects press ganged into fighting for rebels, bike taxi riders now carry them periodic markets, many which new since end conflict. The study provides an analytical account these developments, drawing on discussions with villagers three heavily war-affected localities Sierra Leone. evidence indicates that communities divided conflict have quietly built cooperative links conducive based local agricultural production petty trade.