Security sector reform and intelligence services in sub-Saharan Africa: capturing the whole picture

Abstract

Security sector reform has become a major focus in post-conflict reconstruction and development assistance in recent years. However, security sector reform suffers from a general lack of understanding of civil?military relations in general and the legacy of socialism in sub-Saharan Africa in particular. Nor has the security sector been approached in a cohesive fashion, with intelligence services mostly being left out. This article tries to add to the picture by taking the legacy of socialism and the focus on regime security into account. It argues that the experience of socialist and autocratic structures has left highly politicised security and intelligence services that are unaccustomed to the kind of civilian oversight that is required in democracies. Moreover, new challenges like terrorism and an increase in the narcotics trade have led to an increase in the number of intelligence services and/or expansion in the scope of their activities. This created an even greater need for...