Over the past decade, the place of the security sector has come under intense,
but legitimate scrutiny in Africa. During this period, national governments, inter-governmental
bodies and international actors have taken on board the view that addressing conflicts
on the continent requires a security sector that has a more nuanced understanding
of security issues.
At the African Union, we have spent the past year developing and strengthening
the continental security architecture for the new millenium. With the entry into
force of the AU Peace and Security Council protocol and the adoption of "The
Solemn Declaration on a Common African Defence and Security Policy" in March
2004, the stage is now set for the operationalisation of this comprehensive security
architecture.
It is in this context that I am particularly pleased with this Handbook on Security
Sector Governance in Africa. For too long, a major challenge for many states interested
in reforming their security sectors has been that of operationalisation - especially
the operationalisation of the link between security and development, as well as
the importance of seeing defence and security as both a public policy and a governance
issue (thus broadening the range of constituencies that can legitimately participate
legitimately in this formally restricted arena, into an operational framework
for governance in the security sector.
Whilst noting that the authors of this Handbook are careful not to describe it
as the road-map or Guidebook for security sector governance in Africa, they have
examined the scope, processes, actors and contexts of security sector reform in
Africa, and reflected the diversities of terrains and directions to produce, what
is to my knowledge the first comprehensive and practical guide on governing the
security sector, drawing on both good and bad practices, providing realistic entry-points
for broadening the security agenda in our states and at the same time suggesting
ways of ensuring the professionalisation of our security forces in defence of
the states and protection of the citizens.
As we continue our own task in he building of a comprehensive security architecture,
we will utilise this Handbook extensively in that work. It is my hope the practical
tools and lessons presented here from a variety of experiences will inspire, support
and assist our security institutions, military academies, research institutions,
civil society organisations and international actors in the critical task of security
sector governance in Africa
Professor Alpha Oumar Konare
Chairperson, African Union Commission.
|