Change story: Policing for peace

The ISS has championed the role of police in African peace support operations, and promoted the major role that police play in supporting countries coming out of conflict .

Published on 26 July 2016 in Impact

Police are vital to the success of peacekeeping in Africa, yet their role has often been neglected. The ISS has helped change this through its work as a key partner in the Training for Peace (TfP) Programme.

Effective peace operations depend on police to help ensure the rule of law and protect human rights. When deployed as part of a peace operation, police provide access to justice, build trust between local police and the community, and help develop the capacity of host state police. ‘Good governance is the foundation of conflict-free environments and the police’s role in establishing that is very important,’ says Annette Leijenaar, head of the ISS peace operations and peacebuilding division.

Until recently there was a fundamental gap in the African Union’s (AU’s) design of these operations. ‘Planning and structure have often been dominated by military voices. The police has lagged behind, and police chiefs have had to enhance their understanding of peace operations.’ There was also a lack of guiding documents to clarify the role for police in peace support operations.

Police play a critical role in stabilising postconflict environments

As a result, the ISS steered the development of an AU policy framework to include police in continental security and peace operations. The functions of the police in peace support operations are now clear, and the police have a role in designing and implementing the operations.

The ISS played a key role in establishing the AU Police Strategic Support Group in 2014. The group champions the improved representation of police in AU Peace and Security Council decisions.

It also developed policing guidelines for peace support operations, with a code of conduct and ethics, standard operating procedures, and common training standards.

The ISS facilitated the development of the AU Policy for Policing in Support of Peace Operations. It is ready for implementation by Africans for Africans. A full-time ISS police specialist is helping to drive the policy, drawing on support from a pool of 30 African policing experts.

The enhanced role of the police in African security efforts has been described as a huge achievement by the Head of the AU Peace Support Operations Division, Sivuyile Bam. ‘The ultimate impact,’ says Leijenaar, ‘is we now have police who understand their importance in making African peace operations more effective, and better equipped to recognise the centrality of policing.

‘And that will contribute to more sustainable peace and better conflict management in Africa.’

	I wish to extend my appreciation to the ISS for its dedication and support in enhancing police capacity for peace operations in Africa
	– Crowd Chirenje, Police Coordinator, AU Peace Support Operations Division