We have researched the issues and challenges that have plagued africas anticorruption initiatives over the last decade or two. Aspiring partners across the continent are eager to build marketbased economies and enhance stability. The challenge of stability and security in west africa. Security reform has been correctly described as the quintessential governance issue world bank, 1999.
Pdf west africa, the sahel, and north africa are caught between the terrorist presence of the wellestablished alqaeda in islamic maghreb aqim and the new but quickly expanding isil islamic state of iraq and levant. Security sector reform aims to help states enhance the security of their citizens. Yaliwe clarke under the guise of peacebuilding and postconflict reconstruction, countries that have been through years of civil war liberia, sierra leone, drc, southern sudan, mozambique, angola, etc, have committed to reforming the security sector. African security topics africa center for strategic studies. Experience shows, however, that most ssr efforts are. Ssr in francophone africa has been limited compared. Security sector reform in developing and transitional countries revisited 341 2. As the debate around the private security industry continues, africa in principle should not be isolated from it, because, if not properly understood, let alone effectively regulated, the industry could cause a major security threat to africa. As the globalisation process continues to affect the af.
It seeks to investigate key drivers of conflict and violence, and the way in which they impact the countries of the subregion. In the face of capacity constraints and ongoing democratic transitions, the international community will continue to. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not represent an endorsement by the africa center. From concepts to reality in light of the rapidly changing and evolving security situation in west africa, this paper analyses ecowas policy documents relating to ssr and highlights the challenges of translating norms to practice. Our nation is strongest when we adhere to the core values and interests of the. Security sector reform and governance processes in west africa. Panelists discuss the current state of security in eastern and central africa, with a focus on the regions prominent terrorist groups, as well as u. This has underscored the importance of governance issues and civilian input into policy making. Security sector transformation in africa daniel hampton. Southern africa 4 introduction the sea has always been stranger than land, an unexplored area where a permanent human presence and the demarcation of boundaries seemed impossible. Overview of security sector reforms and the transformation.
Dec 20, 2017 africa remains a continent of promise and enduring challenges. Understanding these paths requires a theoretical framework that highlights the contested nature of the. The enterprise of reforming the security sector in africa implies a. Alternatively, it could further increase the risk of instability and violence if young people are deprived of a quality education, stable employment and a political voice. Environmental and gender impacts of land tenure regularization in. The enterprise of reforming the security sector in africa implies a need for corrective. In this policy, africa, the african continent, the continent or continental. The security sector in southern africa africa portal. However, the link between development and security is far from being clear and to some extent polemic. Setbacks in security sector reform ssr efforts in africa in recent years are reminders that establishing an effective and accountable security sector is inextricably linked to the quality of democratic governance. The reform of the nigerian military has been linked to a wider concern with security sector reform in africa, with the economic community of west african states ecowas adopting the declaration of political principles, promoting multiparty democracy and representative institutions which set guarantees for personal safety and freedom.
Only legitimately elected leaders have builtin incentives to create capable security sectors focused on citizen security. Security sector reform in challenging environments dcaf. Africa remains a continent of promise and enduring challenges. This monograph is a study of the security sector in six southern african countries, namely botswana, the democratic republic of congo, lesotho, mozambique, south africa and zimbabwe. Use the map to answer the following questions about latitude and longitude. Regional security organisations and dynamics august 2012 the security situation in parts of east africa is fragile and recently denmark has begun to take an interest in regional security organisations. Various interpretations exist, and approaches taken by the development and. The security sector in southern africa 20101112 this monograph is a study of the security sector in six southern african countries, namely botswana, the democratic republic of congo, lesotho, mozambique, south africa and zimbabwe. Current national security situation1 south africa is a state in strategic transition and the south african view of its national security situation reflects that change.
It was created in october 2009 to incorporate the formerly separate national intelligence agency, south african secret service, south african national academy of intelligence, national communications centre and comsec south africa. In this report, lesser examines internal and external stresses that may affect those relations. When the concept of security sector reform ssr was introduced some 10. Conflict and insecurity flared up across the continent, with the situation particularly precarious in the sahel region, as well as parts of west and central africa, where weak to nonexistent state authority precipitated intrastate conflicts with dire humanitarian consequences. The state security agency is the department of the south african government with overall responsibility for civilian intelligence operations. Nigeria ssr background note international security. This network has taken advantage of the chaos and disorder in. The more progressive reformers of the region such as ghana have seen some reform of their security sectors but ssr has to compete with many other social and economic priorities and has not been afforded the attention that it needs.
A key element is a well governed security sector, which comprises the civil, political and security institutions responsible for protecting the state and the communities within it. Security sector reform in afghanistan 5 contents executive summary 6 introduction 7 country context 8 a brief history of conflict 8 stabilisation and statebuilding 9 security sector reform 11 security sector reform in the statebuilding process in afghanistan 11 a few words on disarmament 12. Development theoreticians put forward the hypothesis that, in view of the often artificial borders drawn up in the decolonisation process, the military might play a role in uniting people and building nations. At a time when weak states facing endemic insecurity and violence have. A lost opportunity to deconstruct militarised masculinities. Security sector reform and governance processes in west. Generally, post conflict security sector reform processes may go through stages, moving from a stronger influence of external actors and partners in the early stages to a stronger influence of national actors in the later stages. Reform or transformation of the security sector is a growing focus of international assistance. Overview of security sector reforms and the transformation of the nigerians security agencies atelhe, george atelhe adams john anyabe abunimye sunday b department of political science university of calabar, nigeria introduction all over the world, meaningful development cannot take place in an atmosphere of chaos and anarchy. During the colonial milieu, the security sector as a whole was apolitical, impartial and lawabiding. Piecemeal, standalone changes to the security sector, often limited to doctrinal changes, operational effectiveness and costcutting drives, occurring as byproducts of other state reform initiatives and often. In the face of capacity constraints and ongoing democratic transitions, the international community will continue to be a key player in africas future security.
There has been a shift from state and militarycentric notions of security to a greater emphasis on human security. The state of security in africa council on foreign relations. To help readers keep pace with these often fluid issues, the africa center curates a regularly updated list of mustread analyses. The permanent missions of nigeria and south africa to the united nations african perspectives on security sector reform new york city, 14 may 2010 funded by the permanent mission of the kingdom of the netherlands to the united nations facilitated by security sector reform unit offi ce of rule of law and security institutions. Jan 25, 2017 security sector reform and governance processes in west africa. Psr policy domain, the effect of political settlements on. National security strategy in a regional context africa. The events of 911 brought increased engagement with the african continent. Only legitimately elected leaders have built in incentives to create capable security sectors focused on citizen security. Africas security environment is characterized by great diversity.
The case studies in this monograph begin to close the gap by sketching the political environments that are operative in the selected countries. To implement this, we use a quadratic polynomial of latitude and longitude to. Security sector reform in developing and transitional. Elle fait le point sur les forces et les faiblesses des diverses institutions. What security challenges face subsaharan africa in 2015. These, how ever, have failed thus far and the cycle of violence and insecurity persists. By and large, african police forces tend to be underpaid. Peace, security, and sustainable development in africa. The outbreak of conflicts in africa after the end of the cold war has initially led to the nexus but experienced a real boost after 911. This network has taken advantage of the chaos and disorder in libya to establish a province there. Modern postconflict security sector reform in africa. Africas high conflict burden requires continued investment in conflict prevention, control of arms, securitysector reform, the rule of law and regional forces. Security sector reform ssr often arises out of peace processes and forms part of.
For the purposes of security sector reform, african union includes the assembly, the peace and security council, the au commission and all other relevant organs of the african union. May 01, 2015 setbacks in security sector reform ssr efforts in africa in recent years are reminders that establishing an effective and accountable security sector is inextricably linked to the quality of democratic governance. Africa contains many of the worlds fastest growing economies, which represent potential new markets for u. Since 1970, more than 30 wars have been fought in africa, the vast majority of them intra. Security sector reform in the central african republic. Hampton is professor of practice and security studies at the africa center for strategic studies. Country series render a number of services, including security sector reform in postconflict situations. In our sample, merely 15% of the soil w ithin buffer zones showing. Because public sector organizations have broad authority over large sectors of society and the economy, they are able to launch ioe initiatives with impressive scale.
The security sector in africa evolved in two milieu, with two diametrically opposed cultures. While its scope has expanded, its objective has remained the same enabling our readers to make informed risk management decisions in an everchanging cyber security environment. Designed and developed by the unu office of communications. Trends in morocco, algeria, and tunisia have an important bearing on northsouth security relations. While issues of land tenure formalization in africa have long been the subject of. Relevance to peace building legwaila joseph legwaila. Security in africa anticorruption commission london is an organisation dedicated to assisting governments in fighting corruption. The protruding youth population could become an important economic boost to the region.
Africa is a young continent, with the median age at just 19 years. Nigeria ssr background note international security sector. As the debate around the private security industry continues, africa in principle should not be isolated from it, because, if not properly understood. Security sector reform in times of democratic reversal. The first tool or section of the manual begins with a quote from margret. Policy recommendations when deciding which east african security organisation to support, for instance eac, easf. For a long time, the politics of measuring such boundaries had as a yardstick the reach of the cannonball and. The demand for quality american exports is high and will likely. Security sector reform in africa the united nations. He addresses an audience of african security sector leaders at the africa.