Former communist countries in particular are confronted with security sector institutions which lack the capacity to ensure the safety and security of both their citizens and the state. This paper, published by the Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces and the Institute for Defence Studies of Mongolia, is a summary of the status of security sector reform (SSR) and unresolved reform issues in Mongolia. Despite security sector framework’s progress, Mongolia faces difficulties implementing defence sector, police and border protection services reform.
Until the end of the Cold War, Mongolia’s government reflected the ideology and organisational structure of its neighbour, the Soviet Union. After establishing republic status in 1990, the country created a multi-party democracy and adopted a new constitution in 1992. It also established economic and diplomatic relations with the West and began to adopt SSR legal frameworks.
Mongolia is currently conducting reform of security sector professionalism and organisational structures, and modernisation of arms and military techniques. It is also pursuing personnel skills development, management reforms and improved social welfare of its soldiers. It has increased its cooperation with foreign military forces and international security organisations.
However, while some progress has been made, substantial changes in the internal management and operation of the security sector have not occurred. Ongoing SSR challenges include:
- Defence sector: Reform calls for increased professionalism, military structural changes and implementation of national security strategies. Some progress has been made, but lack of funding and the legacy of the communist management mentality hamper reform. The sector’s bureaucratic structure is large and costly. Effective decision making approaches are absent; there is a clash of professional interests among military organisations. Communication with the public on defence issues is rare.
- Border Protection: Reform calls for establishing professional, capable border organisations, improved border security technology and participation of local administrations, supervisory authorities and civilians located close to the border. However, due to lack of funding, technology reform is moving slowly. Living conditions of border troops are inadequate.
- Police: Reform calls for organisational re-structuring, improved knowledge of criminal law procedures and a more effective performance in combatting crime and protecting citizens. There has been some progress in personnel training, reform of the police academy’s curriculum and cooperative programmes with international police institutions. Despite these improvements, the public complains of police abuse of citizens’ human rights.
Above all, SSR in Mongolia needs to strengthen security personnel training and fund security sector technology at all levels. Other recommendations include:
- improve the response to terrorism, contining cooperation with international security institutions in both anti-terrorist activities and citizen safety;
- establish legal confirmation of civilian security sector control;
- increase public communication on security sector policy and strategic objectives.
- improve agency coordination in the fight against crime;
- address the public perception of human rights abuses by police and strengthen police training on criminal law and human rights; and
- increase the border protection budget to improve border personnel living conditions.
