Learning From West African Experiences In Security Sector Governance

Many efforts have been undertaken to address dysfunctional security sector governance in West Africa. However, security sector reform (SSR) has fallen short of radical – transformational – change to the fundamental structures of power and governance in the region. Looking more closely at specific examples of SSR in six West African countries, Learning from West African Experiences in Security Sector Governance explores both progress and reversals in efforts by national stakeholders and their international partners to positively influence security sector governance dynamics. Written by eminent national experts based on their personal experiences of these reform contexts, this study offers new insights and practical lessons that should inform processes to improve democratic security sector governance in West Africa and beyond.

Many efforts have been undertaken to address dysfunctional security sector governance in West Africa. However, security sector reform (SSR) has fallen short of radical -transformational - change to the fundamental structures of power and governance in the region. Looking more closely at specific examples of SSR in six West African countries, Learning from West African Experiences in Security Sector Governance explores both progress and reversals in efforts by national stakeholders and their international partners to positively influence security sector governance dynamics. Written by eminent national experts based on their personal experiences of these reform contexts, this study offers new insights and practical lessons that should inform processes to improve democratic security sector governance in West Africa and beyond.

"Many efforts have been undertaken to address dysfunctional security sector governance in West Africa. However, security sector reform (SSR) has fallen short of radical - transformational - change to the fundamental structures of power and governance in the region. Looking more closely at specific examples of SSR in six West African countries, Learning from West African Experiences in Security Sector Governance explores both progress and reversals in efforts by national stakeholders and their international partners to positively influence security sector governance dynamics. Written by eminent national experts based on their personal experiences of these reform contexts, this study offers new insights and practical lessons that should inform processes to improve democratic security sector governance in West Africa and beyond. "This volume has markedly moved the ball forward in the continuous efforts to better understand SSR experiments, specifically in West Africa. Through what could be dubbed 'street level analysis of SSR' (their concept of "micro-dynamics of SSR"), the editors have introduced a perceptive and innovative vista through which to examine and take stock of SSR processes. A must read volume for academics and practitioners of SSR alike in order to integrate the lessons and add to their knowledge base the valuable insights contained in the various chapters." - Dr. Boubacar N'Diaye, Executive Committee Chair, African Security Sector Network (ASSN); Professor of Political Science and Pan-African Studies, The College of Wooster, USA A French translation of this book can be viewed, for free, at: http: //dx.doi.org/10.5334/bav" This work was published by Saint Philip Street Press pursuant to a Creative Commons license permitting commercial use. All rights not granted by the work's license are retained by the author or authors.

Experience shows that successful democratic transitions need to be underpinned by a security sector that is effective, well managed, and accountable to the state and its citizens. This is why it is so important to carefully examine security sector governance dynamics in contexts where security has often remained a 'reserved domain.' Understanding the issues and perspectives that divide political elites, the security sector, and citizens is the only way to develop security sector reform programs that are legitimate and sustainable at the national level. Through drawing on the close contextual knowledge of practitioners, researchers, and diverse local actors, this book supports this goal by analyzing security sector governance dynamics in each of the nine Francophone countries within West Africa. From this basis, strengths and weaknesses are analyzed, local capacities evaluated, and entry points identified to promote democratic security sector governance in the West African region. (Series: Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces [DCAF])

There is currently no comprehensive study of the status of security sector governance in West Africa. Many efforts to understand governance of the security sector in Africa have been directed either at individual countries or at providing a general analysis of the state and security in Africa. This book is intended to contribute to confidence and peace-building through developing a better understanding of the challenges of security sector governance and generating practical policy recommendations based on work conducted by West African experts. It analyses the nature of security sector governance in each of the 16 West African states, provides an assessment of the effectiveness of governance mechanisms, in particular relating to democratic oversight of the security sector, and takes into account the regional and international dimensions to the issue.

De nombreux efforts ont ete deployes afin d'ameliorer la gestion defaillante du secteur de la securite en Afrique de l'Ouest. Mais il ne suffit pas d'instaurer une reforme du secteur de la securite (RSS) pour changer de maniere radicale, voire transformationnelle, la structure fondamentale du pouvoir et de la gouvernance dans la region. A partir de plusieurs exemples de RSS dans six des pays ouest-africains, l'ouvrage Gouvernance du secteur de la Securite: Lecons des experiences ouest-africaines examine non seulement les progres accomplis par des acteurs nationaux et leurs partenaires internationaux en vue de renforcer la dynamique de la gouvernance du secteur de la securite, mais aussi les revers. Redigee par d'eminents experts nationaux, auteurs ayant puise dans leur experience personnelle de ces contextes de reforme, l'etude livre des enseignements novateurs et pragmatiques visant a faciliter la mise en oeuvre d'une gouvernance democratique du secteur de la securite en Afrique de l'Ouest et au-dela."

Security sector reform (SSR) is key to ensuring sustainable democratisation and peacebuilding processes in the Horn of Africa. This monograph, edited by Len Le Roux and Yemane Kidane, compares SSR experiences in the region and highlights security reform challenges facing the Horn of Africa. SSR in the Horn should include both restructuring of security institutions and strengthening of political, judicial and civil society oversight capacities. It should also be based on a comprehensive, accurate analysis of overall regional and national contexts.