Compared with findings from the formative 2002 SCA, 2016 SCA, the current assessment update reveals far-reaching changes in actors, conflict entrepreneurs, and victims locally, nationally and internationally. Also, a significant shift has occurred in the composition, movement and capacity of actors in conflicts generally across the country, owing to an unprecedented proliferation and flow of small arms and light weapons (SALW) as a result of instability in the sub-region and globally. While the regulation of the main media restrains its involvement in stoking conflicts albeit with occasional failings, the use of the social media has sometimes tended to misinform and send out conflictgenerating messages on some occasions in ways inimical to peace and stability.

From being seen as the cause of conflicts in the 2002 report, this report found that the military and other security personnel have improved in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities.