ABSTRACT This study examined the overbearing influence of rebel movements on regime change in Syria, and its implication on international peace and security. The primary objective of anti-government rebel movements was to challenge Assad’s monopoly on force to effects regime change. The research aimed at assessing the role of rebel movements in the Syrian conflict and the broader implications of their actions on international peace and security. The theoretical framework adopted for the study was State Fragility theory which emphasizes that when a state loses the ability to perform its core functions like monopoly on violence, rule of law, delivery of services, and political legitimacy, alternative centers of power emerge. The Assad regime’s authoritarian repression, particularly its brutal response to the 2011 uprisings, undermined its legitimacy both domestically and internationally and the failure to deliver basic services, protect civilians in war-torn areas created a vacuum which was filled by rebel factions like Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The study adopted documentary method of data collection from secondary sources and qualitative descriptive method of content analysis. The study revealed among others that the Syrian conflict had multifaceted and far-reaching implications for international peace and security, and also underscores the fact that rebel movements played a central role in catalyzing regime change in Syria through a combination of armed insurgency, territorial control, which undermines the legitimacy of Assad government. The study recommended that Regional bodies such as Arab League, European Union and African Union should invest in robust early warning systems to identify and respond to emerging civil conflicts before its escalate. It also recommended the United Nations Security Council to reconsider the veto power system, especially in cases involving mass atrocities or humanitarian crises. Keywords: State Fragility, Rebel Movements, Regime Change and Middle East Geopolitics
Ph.D et al. (Fri,) studied this question.