Within the ssr paradigm, such reform was seen as an essential precondition of sustainable development and was envisaged as encompassing the entire spectrum of security institutions, including the. Security sector reform ssr is often wrongly reduced to functional capacity building in the security forces. African union policy framework on security sector reform ssr. Understanding and supporting security sector reform. Considerable political, practical, conceptual and strategic work still needs to be done on security sector reform before a flexible approach can be developed to most situations. In this policy, africa, the african continent, the continent or continental.
Security sector reform in the central african republic. Recognizing the peculiarities and the specific requirements of security sector reform in africa, the need for african ownership of the continents security sector reform processes, and the desire to situate security sector reform efforts within the african unions shared values. Pdf how to apply the security sector reform of south africa. Chief of communications and advocacy, call for energy experts. The security sector is also crucial to political power, both in the macro sense of regime stability and in the micro sense of exercising daytoday political control and generating revenue. Jun 30, 2008 when the concept of security sector reform ssr was introduced some 10 years ago, it aimed to offer an innovative approach to the reform of security governance. For this reason promoting democratic security sector governance ssg through security sector reform ssr is increasingly recognized as a key enabler for wider. The enterprise of reforming the security sector in africa implies a. Security sector reform ssr often arises out of peace processes and forms part. Progress made by burundis security sector development ssd program in advancing democratic security sector governance is noteworthy given that there have been relatively few successful security sector reform cases from which to draw.
Modern postconflict security sector reform in africa. Concept of security sector reform filip ejdus since it emerged from the donor and academic communities in the 1990s, the concept of security sector reform ssr has been through numerous transformations. Pdf how to apply the security sector reform of south. Within the ssr paradigm, such reform was seen as an essential precondition of sustainable development and was envisaged as encompassing the entire spectrum of security institutions, including the military, police, intelligence services and the penal system. It makes the case that security sector reform ssr must be a fundamental component in zimbabwes stabilisation and reconstruction, and suggests ways forward to achieve this. Security sector reform is therefore closely tied to domestic processes of political and social change. Pdf how to apply the security sector reform of south africa in the. The forgotten foundation of security sector reform since the end of the cold war, subsaharan africa has been plagued by a wave of conflicts and wars. Alan bryden, boubacar ndiaye and funmi olonisakin eds. The list of countries in need of security sector reform is long. Security sector reform united nations peacekeeping. In the reconstruction and transformation of any post war country, security sector reform ssr is key. The enterprise of reforming the security sector in africa implies a need for corrective. In terms of political geography therefore, the car is indeed the centre of africa.
Security sector reform 1 security sector reform in ghana introduction and context of reform ghana has come to be considered one of the most successful examples of demilitarization and democratization, and its experiences with security sector reform have often been noted as a hopeful example and an important factor contributing to. It refers to a host of reform interventions related to the reform of sections of the public sector engaged in the provision of both internal and external security. The security sector reform ssr agenda emerged within development and security policy circles in the late 1990s in recognition of the need for a broader. Lessons from burundis security sector reform process. 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. Section iv then looks in more detail at the context for security sector reform in africa, asia, latin america and the cee states, where the level and nature of international involvement vary significantly. Relevance to peace building legwaila joseph legwaila. A united nations perspective adedeji ebo and kristiana powell 45 3 the global war on terrorism and its implications for us security sector. 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. Challenges of security sector governance in west africa provides a useful mapping of the achievements and areas of improvement in security governance processes in the subregion, and also provides entry points for nationally driven security sector reform processes. The concept of security sector reform united nations. Security sector transformation in africa issat dcaf. Further advice and information on security sector reform can be obtained from the conflict and humanitarian.
Security sector reform ssr agenda emerged within a development, peacebuilding and security policy circles in the late 1990s from the speech of clare short at the centre for defence studies in kings college london. However, it has already come to occupy a central place on the agenda of institutions active in the fields of development, conflict transformation and peacebuilding. The rampaging violence of liberation wars, military coups, intra and interstate conflicts has fueled insurgencies and ethnic cleansing. Reducing the size, budget and scope of activity of the security sector and reforming it. School of politics and international relations, university of kent, kent, uk correspondence nadine. Police sector reform security topics africa center for. Security sector governance ssg refers to the structures, processes, values and attitudes that shape decisions about security and their implementation. Objectives of security sector reform background for facilitator this section introduces the concept of security sector reform. The security landscape in every country is a reflection of history, culture, political, socioeconomic conditions and experiences. The united nations assists member states to undertake security sector reform with a view to achieving effective and accountable security for the state and its citizens, without discrimination and with full respect for human rights and the rule of. When the concept of security sector reform ssr was introduced some 10 years ago, it aimed to offer an innovative approach to the reform of security governance. The concepts of security sector governance and reform ssgr, or ssg and ssr generally refer to a process in westernbased international development and democratization to amend the security sector of a state towards good governance and its principles, such as freedom of information and the rule of law. The books comprehensive coverage of the varied contexts within which security. The african security sector network assn is a panafrican network of experts and organisations working in the area of security sector reform ssr.
The security sector reform debate is still in its embryonic stage. Security sector reform in developing and transitional. Security sector reform is vital to silencing the guns in africa. Security sector reform ssr is a holistic approach to nation building that focuses on building strong police, military, and justice systems that adhere to the rule of law and have a firm. Reform or transformation of the security sector is a growing focus of international assistance. History department, university of zimbabwe introduction security sector reform ssr is a concept that gained currency as a development agenda in the aftermath of the cold war. Silencing the guns in africa by 2020 has been key to implementing the african unions au agenda 2063 since it was adopted in 20.
Highlevel forum on african perspectives on security sector reform introduction and background 1. Integrating gender in security sector reform and governance. Pdf security system reform ssr is a process to reform or rebuild a states security sector. The concept of security sector reform also gains a political acceptance in a large number of east european and postsoviet states, which undertake efforts towards establishing democratic systems. Security sector reform ssr united nations and the rule of law. There has been a shift in thinking from donor countries, international financial institutions and development agencies towards security.
A handbook the handbook has been produced by a collaborative effort among researchers and practitioners across africa. Founded in 2003, the network is headquartered in accra, ghana, with regional hubs in juba, nairobi and johannesburg, and a smaller office attached to the african union in addis ababa. The african union has a unique responsibility to lend an african character to and african ownership of ssr processes in conflict prevention, peacekeeping, post. Security sector governance and reform in africa issat dcaf. A lost opportunity to deconstruct militarised masculinities.
In fact, in many countries ssr is an element of state building, reduces concrete security risks for the population, and should always also contribute to democratic security governance within society. 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. Aisha fofana ibrahim, alex sivalie mbayo and rosaline mcarthy, integrating gender in security sector reform and governance, in ornella moderan ed. Africa and the challenges of security sector reform gsdrc. No issue is more important than security sector reform in determining the democratic republic of the congos prospects for peace and development. Security sector reform ssr aims at improving safety through enhancing the effectiveness and accountability of security institutions controlled by civilians and operating according to human. The high level forum on african perspectives on security sector reform was held on 14 may 2010 at the permanent mission of nigeria to the united nations, new york, and cohosted by the permanent missions of nigeria and south africa to the united. The promise and the practice of a new donor approach. Byrd 301 19 the role of the private sector in security sector reform alex martin and peter wilson 314 20 scaling the hurdle or muddling through coordination and sequencing implementation of security sector reform in africa. Security sector reform in africa introduction the concept of security sector reform ssr has only been in currency for some 10 years. The case for security sector reform in zimbabwe ii this paper is intended to stimulate a discourse on the security sector and its reform in zimbabwe.
The future of security sector reform 16 i the origins and evolution of the ssr concept 28 1 the evolution of the security sector reform agenda nicole ball 29 2 why is ssr important. Donor approaches versus local needs nadine ansorg institute of african affairs, giga german institute of global and area studies, hamburg, germany. Security sector governance and reform dcaf backgrounder what is meant by security sector governance and security sector reform. Nov 06, 2014 professor thomas dempsey is the africa center for strategic studies chair for security studies. Challenges and priorities moderators overview the central african republic is literally cartographically central to africa, physically located at the heart of the continent. Professor dempsey specializes in security sector reform, rule of law, postconflict transitions and. It provides guidance on undertaking a process of security sector transformation consistent with democratic governance principles and a human security agenda. A curated list of mustread analyses on police sector reform. Views expressed are those of the authors and are not an endorsement by the africa center.
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