Volume 19 Number 1

The feasibility of security sector reform and access to justice in Sudan: Challenges and prospects

Chris M A Kwaja

This article examines security sector reform (SSR) in Sudan and provides an overview of some of the ongoing challenges in the operationalisation of SSR in Sudan’s post-war economy. The author argues that security providers such as the military and police function within a highly political and undemocratic milieu that lacks transparency and does not have the capacity to expose the government’s lack of commitment to combating impunity and punishing human rights violators and violations. With the attendant shortcomings in security, such as the blatant disregard for the rule of law and the state’s failure to guarantee security of its people, undertaking SSR in the Sudan is a huge task. In conclusion the article recommends processes for a comprehensive overhaul of the security apparatus of the Sudanese state which would subject the security (military and police) apparatus to democratic control and oversight as well as making them accountable for their actions.

Dimensions of the Darfur crisis and its consequences: An Arab perspective
Hamdy A Hassan

This study aims to present an informed vision of the Darfur crisis by examining the visible, tangible facts. It also introduces an approach different from the current, traditional one in exploring future horizons while confronting the possible consequences of current events and phenomena. The main objective of the study is therefore to critically explore the Darfur conflict and the future of the region and Sudan from an Arab perspective.

Containing the Somali insurgency: Learning from the British experience in Somaliland
Nori Katagiri

The international community has struggled to find ways to mitigate the crisis in Somalia today. Research finds that British experiences in Somaliland at the turn of the 20th century provide a useful historical lesson. Highlighting some of the most important factors of the Anglo-Somali war of 1899–1920, the author draws four major lessons and applies them to the current war in Somalia. Specifically, the international community should provide sufficient armed forces, enforce effective arms control measures, and make adequate commitment to stabilising the combat zone. More importantly, ways should be found of curbing the evolution of insurgency into a more potent violent group.

Africa Watch

Nigeria: Yar’Adua’s health and the agony of Nigeria’s democracy
David Zounmenou

Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua’s health is raising concerns for the future of the democratisation process. Flown to Saudi Arabia on an emergency health problem, President Yar’Adua’s failure or inability to transfer temporarily power to his vice-president has fuelled tensions and threatened the Nigerian democratisation process. Of major concern is what the future hold for Nigeria. Can the authorities manage this crisis in the best interests of the country? Alternatively, what are the options?

Central African Republic: Elections on the horizon?
Nadia Ahmadou and Paul-Simon Handy

Following the end of a successful inclusive political dialogue and the adherence to peace processes by the majority of military opposition groups in the Central African Republic, elections have been set up for 2010. Constitutionally, these elections must be held before April 2010 and similarly, the mandate of sitting President François Bozizé comes to an end in June 2010. As the country prepares for this crucial vote, it remains to be seen whether the elections are going to set the scene for much-needed political stability in this conflict-ridden country.

Essays

Climate change and civil war
Carmel Davis

The author uses the ‘greed’ explanation of civil war developed by Paul Collier and Anke Hoeffler to argue that one channel by which global climate change will affect security is through an increased probability of civil war. The argument is that global climate change will reduce economic growth in some areas, particularly in the developing world, which will reduce the opportunity cost of war for potential insurgents. The author focuses on agriculture because of its close relationship with the climate and economic growth.

The African Union’s mandating authority and processes for deploying an ASF mission
Solomon A Dersso

Currently, the African Union is in the process of operationalising the various components of the African Peace and Security Architecture. One of these is the African Standby Force (ASF). Once the ASF becomes operationally ready, it will be used by the AU and regional economic communities for undertaking peace support operations as chief means of conflict management and resolution. In the discussion on this subject, one issue that received very little or no attention is the question of the AU’s mandating authority and the decision-making processes for deploying an ASF mission. The purpose of this article is accordingly to identify the legal and institutional processes leading towards the deployment of the ASF. To this end, the article seeks to determine the various legally identifiable situations in respect of which the ASF is intended to be deployed as one of the AU’s response mechanisms to crisis situations on the continent. It also involves examination of the legal sources of the AU’s mandating authority, the decision-making processes involved in respect to each of the legally identifiable situations, and the role various actors play in this.

Commentaries

The Union of Islamic Courts and security governance in Somalia
Oscar Gakuo Mwangi

Armed non-state actors are increasingly challenging state provision of security in collapsed states. In such states armed non-state actors play both negative and positive roles in security governance. This article examines the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), an armed non-state actor in Somalia, which managed during its brief rule to restore peace and local-level security in parts of the country despite being identified as a threat to international security. Using traditional institutions the UIC significantly improved the provision of local-level security, indicating the importance of such actors in security governance in collapsed states.

Interrogating the seriousness of African leaders: Discrepancies in adhering to international and continental initiatives
Issaka K Souaré

This commentary looks at the apparent contradictions in the actions of some African leaders with regard to continental initiatives compared to international ones. It would seem that most African leaders often attach more value to the latter at the expense of the former. An example is found in the haste of many African countries to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) while neglecting many continental and national instruments that could make the work of the ICC more effective. The intention is not to criticise international initiatives per se, or even to reproach African countries for their adherence to such initiatives, but rather to point out that this should not happen at the expense of local ones. A specific appeal is made to African leaders to speedily ratify the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance so as to equip the African Union with the necessary legal instruments to deal with some of the challenges facing the democratic process on the continent.

Challenges for a return to civilian rule in Guinea
Sadiki Koko

More than a year after the death of then President General Lansana Conté in December 2008 and the military takeover by the Conseil National pour la Démocratie et le Développement hours later, the political transition in Guinea remains plagued by major uncertainties. The botched assassination of the President, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, by his aide de camp, Lieutenant Aboubacar Sidiki Diakité, on 3 December 2009 has exacerbated the political crisis in a country believed to be on the brink of implosion. Guinea’s current predicament continues to highlight the imperative necessity of addressing the challenges facing political transition in the country, a precondition for a speedy restoration of constitutional order, and return to civilian rule. It is our argument that unless all internal and external stakeholders commit to a practically sound and politically realistic approach to overcoming the current political impasse, the political transition in Guinea is doomed to fail.

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