After Mosul: better SSR?

[JMA]

Pliny The Elder is quoted as saying:

Ex Africa semper aliquid novi - (There is always something new in Africa)

This is of course nonsense other than to those who have little knowledge and/or understanding of Africa.

Much is predictable in Africa as elsewhere expect to those who attempt to transplant principles and approaches from Europe or North America directly without thought.

Training the police is as fruaght with difficulties as training the militaries.

Kenyans five times more likely to be shot dead by police than by criminals

British aid focused on reforming Kenya's security services fails to slow deaths at the hands of police force considered among the world's most corrupt

and then:

Providing training and advice to reform the country's security sector and its police is part of the £125 million that the Department for International Development gives Kenya in aid each year.

Now here is the crunch:

Significant chunks of Britain's aid for police reform was directed to establishing the Independent Police Oversight Authority, which despite a staff of 80 has so far failed to complete any investigations more than two years after it was formed.

The sad truth is that the Brits are achieving absolutely nothing in Africa, and probably neither are the French... so what chance have the Americans or for that matter the Chinese?

Absolutely.

I would also observe that SSR generally focuses on the military at the expense of the police forces and that both are required. Furthermore a degree of competence in the police while raising the competence of the military could induce a degree of competitive stability into the security sector dynamic that may enhance stability overall.

[Bill Moore]

JMA,

Achieving nothing? I think that is a bit of an exaggeration. Can something be achieved? Obviously al-Qaeda linked groups are making progress to some degree, proving organizations can effect Africa. They would have made more progress without assistance from the West, so I think we're achieving something, though far short of what is desired. Africa nations' economies are some the fastest growing in the world currently. If you're optimist you can see a positive trend line. A very slow trend, but a trend nonetheless.

What should the West, and China for that matter, do in Africa in your view?

[JMA]

Well Bill I guess someone may be able to produce even a short list of recent British achievements in Africa?

Even in the days of empire many of the decisions and policy made and formulated in London were clearly misdirected, ill-informed or just plain ludicrous. In the colonies which allowed settlers an understanding of things Africa and African was being passed down through the generations.

In Britain today there are no people in policy/decision making or advisory positions who have sufficient knowledge/experience of Africa or any idea just how complex a continent Africa is . (I guess those who may disagree with this statement of mine will be able to provide a list of 'qualified' persons and how they have made a difference).

I would suggest that the methods used by al-Qaeda and other jihadi groups are more effective because once they have 'a foot in the door' through an approach through traditional religious structures are then, once established, able to apply coercion at a level of brutality no civilized country could consider.

The African economies that are growing are either through oil and mineral development of are producing unrealistic growth figures as they are off a very low base.

That said we are talking military and police/security advice support here and none of this helps to grow the economy other than where a peace divident is achieved after a civil or other war.

We could go on...

JMA,

Achieving nothing? I think that is a bit of an exaggeration. Can something be achieved? Obviously al-Qaeda linked groups are making progress to some degree, proving organizations can effect Africa. They would have made more progress without assistance from the West, so I think we're achieving something, though far short of what is desired. Africa nations' economies are some the fastest growing in the world currently. If you're optimist you can see a positive trend line. A very slow trend, but a trend nonetheless.

What should the West, and China for that matter, do in Africa in your view?

[davidbfpo]

The formal title to this blog comment is 'Security Force Assistance: Creating a New Paradigm', the author is a serving US Army infantry captain, so extra value IMHO:http://foreign-intrigue.com/2014/08/...-new-paradigm/

[Red Rat]

The formal title to this blog comment is 'Security Force Assistance: Creating a New Paradigm', the author is a serving US Army infantry captain, so extra value IMHO:http://foreign-intrigue.com/2014/08/...-new-paradigm/

Interesting article. The conclusion is:

"The current training paradigm relies on the maligned “train and equip” model. To be successful, a new paradigm in security force assistance is needed, one that relies not only on the training tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) but, as outlined by McFate, on leadership development, developing professionalism and ethical conduct, and surrounded by a civilian leadership that supports its mission with the necessary institutions required to properly select, equip, and maintain a fighting force."

I would focus on . and ethical conduct, and surrounded by a civilian leadership that supports its mission with the necessary institutions required to properly select, equip, and maintain a fighting force.

In any Security Force Assistance or SSR programme one has to work within the cultural, ethical and political framework of the society to which that Armed Forces belongs.

In a crisis the incumbent power is more likely to allow significant change to an Armed Forces if that poses a lesser threat to their interests than the alternative. Once the immediate threat is over any change that directly or indirectly threatens them is likely to be neutralised. This is what happened in Iraq and is the pattern seen in many African countries.

The best inducement for broad brush ethical and cultural change which will enable SSR such as the author refers to is often economic development.