Professionalism in Africa’s Security Sector – Ibrahim Wani
Channel: Africa Center for Strategic Studies
Date: 2023-06-27

Presentation from Session 13 of our Emerging Security Sector Leaders Seminar

It is well established that enhancing professionalism in Africa’s security sector is critical to improving citizen security and safety, promoting political stability, improving rule of law and governance in the security sector, and cultivating citizens’ trust in security officials. In the armed forces, professionalism is commonly defined in terms of the principles guiding the professional, such as the subordination of the military to democratic civilian authority, allegiance to the state, and a commitment to political neutrality and an ethical institutional culture. The inherent values of professionalism include discipline, integrity, honor, sacrifices, commitment to the greater good of society, dedication to duty, individual responsibility, and accountability for moral agency and service in spite of self-interest.

Military professionalism in Africa has been weakened as manifested in a recent surge of coups, waning popular trust in militaries, political instability, corruption, and failure to confront the insecurity and violence caused by non-state security actors. Although there are many reasons that explain weak military professionalism in Africa, some factors of primary concern are a lack of systematic checks and balances, politicization of militaries and militarization of politics, and ambiguity over the missions of the militaries that serve to protect government from rather than for citizens.

Governments and security sector leaders have a vital interest in enhancing the professionalism and accountability of defense and security institutions. The development and implementation of national security strategies will not only provide mechanisms for democratic civilian control and oversight of the security sector to ensure respect for civil liberties, human rights, and rule of law, but will also provide guidance and clarity for the roles, mission, mandate, professional norms and values, and doctrine of security forces.

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https://africacenter.org/programs/2023-essl/

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