The private security sector in Africa: The 21st century's major cause for concern?

This paper seeks to contribute to the ongoing debate around the private security sector with an African focus.

The private security sector in Africa has been experiencing unprecedented growth. In the last decade this growth has presented a number of challenges on the continent as far as peace and security are concerned. While the overriding purpose of the private security sector is to provide security and related services, there is a danger of the sector becoming a force unto itself because of a lack of (effective) regulations. This paper seeks to contribute to the ongoing debate around the private security sector with an African focus.

About the author

Sabelo Gumedze is a senior researcher attached to the Defence Sector Programme (DSP) at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria. After obtaining a BA in Law and an LLB from the University of Swaziland, he worked as a candidate attorney and was subsequently admitted as an attorney of the High Court of Swaziland. He also holds an LLM degree in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa from the University of Pretoria. Sabelo has a specific interest in human rights in Africa. His ongoing project at the ISS focuses on the regulation of the private security sector in Africa. He wishes to thank Godfrey Musila, a PhD Fellow at the South African Institute for Constitutional, Public, Human Rights and International Law (SAIFAC), for his comments on an earlier draft of this paper.