Governance Perspectives of Human Security in Africa

Human security should not be considered as a mere academic rhetoric—it is, in fact, a political tool aimed at transforming individuals from conditions of exploitation and domination to that of political participation and accountability. This paper adopts political governance perspectives to analyze human security in Africa. It argues that without accountable democratic governance, the expressed objectives of human security would be difficult to achieve in Africa. By this focus, the paper adopts a broader view of human security, satisfying both the governance and development prerequisites of the concept, which has underpinned [in] security in Africa. The overall estimation of human security in Africa is that only a marginal improvement has been made in the region, especially over the last decade

The African Union’s Peace and Security Architecture : Defining an emerging response mechanism

The Lecture Series on African Security is a joint collaboration between the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) and the Nordic Africa Institute (NAI). The first round of lectures was conducted in 2008. The lectures revolve around core themes in African security studies and case studies from contemporary Africa, and they are presented by highly renowned international and national experts on Africa.</p

From “eco-pessimism” to “eco-optimism” ECOMOG And The West African Integration Process

No Abstract African Journal of Political Science Vol.4(1) 1999: 21-3

Women and Civil Conflict: Liberia and Sierra Leone

Résumé Le présent article est consacré à une analyse due caractère et de la nature des tâches exécutées par les femmes dans les crises libérienne et sierra léonienne. Ce faisant, il se démarque des perspectives essentialistes qui prévalent dans les études de relations de genre en Afrique. Il insiste plutôt sur le > des activités des femmes en temps de guerre ainsi que le fait ressortir leur rôle dans les processus de recrutement, la mobilisation de l'appui financier au profit des différentes factions armées, et leur implication dans les processus de paix et de reconstruction après les conflits. Par cet essai, on espère également donner la parole et plus de visibilité aux femmes ordinaires prises dans les zones de conflit, mais aussi encourager davantage la recherche empirique sur le rôle et les activités des femmes dans les conflits armés contemporains de l'Afrique. (African Journal of International Affairs, 1998 1(2): 45-58

Ecowas' dilemma : balancing principles and pragmatism : West Africa's regional bloc faces disintegration after failed sanctions against military regimes

The decision by Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to leave Ecowas reflects the bloc’s failure to address security and humanitarian issues in the subregion. It is also a result of people losing faith in Ecowas’ leadership after years of complacency and inconsistency in championing its democratic principles. Pragmatic dialogue with the member states currently run by military regimes will be crucial if regional collaboration is to be revived. And defending democratic values will be crucial if civilian rule and popular trust are to be restored

Critical Perspectives on Transnational Criminality in West Africa

This is an overview of the impact and challenge of transnational organized crime which often overlaps with Islamist insurgency in West Africa.  Although these developments threaten the foundations of the state in West Africa, the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been unable to deal with the situation.  Canadian policy makers pondering a troop commitment to Mali should pay particular attention to this piece

Domestic Peacekeeping Practices in the Tamale Metropolis

This article contributes to understanding local security practices in urban Africa by examining links between international peacekeeping and local policing in Tamale, the capital of Ghana’s Northern Region. It uses the concept of assemblage to suggest that while experiences, skills and lessons gained from consistent engagement in United Nations peacekeeping may be detected in local policing in Tamale, their effects on everyday policing are in practice limited. This is due to the central role of traditional authorities in local security and general political interference in police matters. Local policing in Tamale is an assemblage of formal (police and military) and informal (chiefs and community leaders) security arrangements, with the latter, especially, dictating how crimes should be dealt with. This makes it next to impossible for the police to do their job without interference. The article examines how non-state or traditional actors shape policing and security provision in Tamale, and what space is available for police officers to use the skills they believe they have learned in peacekeeping missions. The paper shows through empirical analysis how local policing is shaped more by kinship and politics than international principles of human rights and democracy.&nbsp

The Neglected Economic Dimensions of ECOWAS’s Negotiated Peace Accords in West Africa Vernachlässigte ökonomische Dimensionen von ECOWAS-Friedensvereinbarungen in Westafrika

Since its first intervention in Liberia in December 1989, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has, in conjunction with the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN), managed to resolve intrastate violence in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire through its political and military interventions. One aspect of the work undertaken by the ECOWAS that has received little scholarly attention are the economic dimensions of the peace accords it has negotiated. To date, no scholarly work that we know of has focused on this aspect of ECOWAS peace initiatives. The same is true of other peace initiatives, such as those in Côte d’Ivoire, led by other actors. This paper seeks to bridge these scholarly lacunae by evaluating the economic dimensions of peace agreements in these three countries, and by examining how these agreements address the distribution and management of economic resources. We argue that because these conflicts were partially underpinned by the mismanagement of economic resources, the search for peace should necessarily include addressing economic issues at the negotiating table.Seit ihrer ersten Intervention in Liberia im Dezember 1989 ist es der Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft Westafrikanischer Staaten (Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS) – gemeinsam mit der Afrikanischen Union (AU) und den Vereinten Nationen (VN) – gelungen, durch politische und militärische Interventionen gewaltsame innerstaatliche Konflikte in Liberia, Sierra Leone und Côte d’Ivoire zu lösen. Den ökonomischen Dimensionen der von ECOWAS ausgehandelten Friedensvereinbarungen wurde bislang von wissenschaftlicher Seite wenig Aufmerksamkeit entgegengebracht; es gibt keine Forschungsarbeit, die diesen Aspekt der ECOWAS-Friedensinitiativen in den Fokus rückt. Das gilt auch für Friedensinitiativen anderer Akteure, zum Beispiel in Côte d’Ivoire. Mit dem vorliegenden Beitrag wird versucht, diese Forschungslücke zu überbrücken. Wir untersuchen die ökonomischen Dimensionen von Friedensvereinbarungen in den drei genannten Ländern und prüfen, inwieweit diese Vereinbarungen die Verteilung und Bewirtschaftung der vorhandenen ökonomischen Ressourcen aufgreifen. Weil die Konflikte zum Teil auch auf dem Missmanagement ökonomischer Ressourcen basieren, sollten notwendigerweise auch ökonomische Fragen Gegenstand von Friedensverhandlungen sein