In West Africa, a combination of norm-setting at the sub-regional level and activism in the non-governmental sector is driving the move toward improved security sector governance (SSG). The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces has studied aspects of SSG in sixteen West African countries. This resulting analysis suggests that democratisation does not necessarily lead to democratic governance of the security sector.
Despite major efforts at disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration, little attention has been paid to carrying out reforms of the security apparatus in West Africa. Evidence suggests that transformation of the political culture does not necessarily substitute for a systematic security sector reform (SSR) process.
The aim of SSR is to ensure that security structures are redesigned, depoliticised, professionalised, and subordinated to a democratically elected civilian authority. Tangible progress in SSR has been made with considerable international support and leadership. Lessons learnt augur well for future engagement in other countries. However, there is a need to properly identify, categorise, and explain the obstacles that stand in the way of a peaceful democratic West Africa. Criteria which are indicative of a reforming trend in the governance of a state’s security sector include:
- An unambiguous statement of the key principles that will guide the management of the security forces, particularly the roles and responsibilities of political actors.
- A clear security policy, defined as early as possible in the reform process. The policy environment should be transparent and participatory. Leaders at all levels should be accountable.
- A policy framework set down by government within which the transformation of the security sector will be managed. The relationship between the security forces and the civil authorities should be articulated.
- A reform agenda and process that is locally owned and driven. This is particularly relevant in situations where the reform programme is largely supported from external sources.
Only collective will and sustained efforts to carry out security sector reforms are likely to end constant instability and violence in West Africa. External donors have a role to play in helping West African states engage in and sustain an SSR agenda. The challenge remains to get individual states to live up to their commitments and to concretely translate them into citizen-focused attitudes and policies. Recommendations for donors include:
- There is a need to foster a culture of positive opportunism for SSR in failed states as well as states spared the catastrophe of collapse. Côte d’Ivoire’s current predicament can be traced to the failure of successive leaders to recognise and seize such opportunities.
- A genuinely acknowledged, empowered, and competent civil society can be a catalyst for positive opportunism. The civil sector can and should become an increasingly important player in the effort to promote effective SSG in West Africa.
- Fostering participative approaches that systematically question the status quo, as introduced at the sub-regional level within ECOWAS, is invaluable.
- Where political will is lacking at the national level, entry points at the sub-regional level, primarily through ECOWAS, should be vigorously pursued.
- Donors must make the principle of security a public good. Efficiency, transparency, and accountability should be conditions of their assistance.
