Former Foreign Affairs Minister of Burkina Faso Olivia Ragnaghnèwendé Rouamba has said despite Africa’s collective efforts, “the reality remains that state-led security approaches alone are often insufficient” to address the continent’s “complex and evolving threats.”
Keynoting at the international conference organised by the Centre for Intelligence and Security Analysis (CISA) at the Lancaster Hotel in Accra, Ghana, on Thursday, 7 November 2024, on the theme, ‘New Paradigms for Ensuring Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Closer Cooperation with Non-Governmental Security and Intelligence Organisations,’ she noted: “In our pursuit of stability, it has become increasingly clear that state-centric strategies, while foundational, require complementary support from non-governmental security and intelligence organisations (NGSIOs).”
She added that, “partnerships with private security firms, intelligence-sharing initiatives, good management of information between states and security-oriented NGOs, and grassroots organisations play an essential role in peacebuilding and community security.”
The Limitations of Traditional State-Centric Security Approaches
According to the Burkinabe diplomat, Africa’s traditional approach to security relies heavily on government-controlled military and intelligence services – a model she acknowledged has historically served as the cornerstone of national defence but has proven inadequate in addressing the continent’s modern security challenges, which include terrorism, insurgency, and inter-ethnic violence.
In Burkina Faso, for instance, she said the state forces have been stretched thin by the escalating violence in the Sahel, where extremist groups exploit weak borders and local grievances to destabilise the entire region.
She cited, for example, that the G5 Sahel Joint Force — a regional coalition with support from the African Union (AU) — that was established to coordinate military efforts against armed insurgent groups continues to face significant obstacles, including limited resources, insufficient local intelligence, and challenges in building trust with affected communities though it has achieved some success.
This experience, she stressed, has highlighted a critical point: military responses, while necessary, are not sufficient on their own. They must be accompanied by community engagement, targeted intelligence, and trust-building measures to create a comprehensive approach to security. Internationally, Amb. Rouamba said the situation is not different as similar limitations are seen.
In Colombia, for example, she recalled how “government forces struggled to combat insurgent groups for decades until they began involving local organisations and private entities in peacebuilding efforts,” underscoring: “These partnerships provided valuable local intelligence, facilitated disarmament efforts, and built pathways for reintegration into society, proving that sustainable security requires input from a wide range of actors.”
The Role and Impact of Non-Governmental Security and Intelligence Organisations
To address the limitations of state-led security strategies, the former minister said “African nations have an opportunity to work more closely with non-governmental security and intelligence organisations,” saying: “These entities bring unique capabilities, particularly in areas where state presence is limited or mistrusted.”
“Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), for instance, are often deeply embedded within communities, allowing them to gather local insights, foster dialogue, and mediate conflicts that would be challenging for formal state forces to address alone,” she explained.
She said: “One successful example is Kenya, where the NGO – Search for Common Ground has worked with local communities to mitigate conflicts and reduce the influence of extremist groups such as al-Shabaab. By promoting community-led dialogues and providing training in conflict resolution, this organisation has helped foster trust between citizens and state security forces, reducing the community support that violent extremists rely on. Similar community-oriented approaches can provide crucial support for peace and stability, especially in regions where traditional state presence is minimal.”
In another success story of such collaboration, she narrated that the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), an institution under the AU, “collaborates with various Non-Governmental Security and Intelligence Organisations (NGSIOs) to strengthen regional intelligence-sharing.”
This collaboration, she noted, “enables the ACSRT to gather and analyse data from diverse sources, including local organisations and international NGOs, which bolsters its early warning systems and threat assessments,” pointing out: “Such partnerships highlight the potential for hybrid intelligence models to enhance the accuracy and timeliness of security information, leading to more effective prevention and response strategies.”
Global Models of Public-Private Security Partnerships
Borrowing a leaf from best practices in other parts of the world, Ms Rouamba said, “Public-private security partnerships have demonstrated the effectiveness of integrating diverse actors into security frameworks,” noting how the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, for instance, “exemplifies the importance of incorporating non-governmental entities into the counter-terrorism landscape.”
She indicated how private companies specialising in intelligence, cybersecurity, and data analysis have provided crucial support to the coalition’s operations in Syria and Iraq, enhancing the coalition’s capabilities beyond what state actors alone could achieve.
In Colombia, she told of how the government’s fight against paramilitary groups and organised crime has been supported by private security firms and local organisations that assist with intelligence gathering, infrastructure security, and demobilisation efforts. This collaboration, she mentioned, “enabled Colombia to secure remote areas and build trust with affected communities.”
Through partnerships with non-governmental actors, the Colombian government has seen notable improvements in both security and peacebuilding outcomes, offering a valuable model for African nations facing similar challenges.
In other examples closer to home, Ms Rouamba said in the Sahel, “Burkina Faso and its neighbours have engaged with local self-defence groups in an attempt to strengthen community resilience against extremist incursions.”
She said the fact that these partnerships have helped supplement national security forces “underscores the importance of having a structured framework to ensure accountability, training, and human rights compliance in non-governmental collaborations.”
Strategic Approaches to Integrating Non-Governmental Actors into Africa’s Security Architecture
To integrate NGSIOs into Africa’s security architecture effectively, Amb. Rouamba suggested the continent pursues “strategies that build capacity, foster trust, and ensure compliance with legal standards.”
Some promising approaches are as follows:
• Capacity Building and Training: African nations can benefit from joint training initiatives that bring together state and non-state actors to build mutual understanding and professional standards. For example, the European Union’s Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia) offers training to Somali police and coast guards, emphasizing the importance of law enforcement, anti-terrorism, and human rights compliance. Similar programs could be implemented across Africa to strengthen the professionalism and interoperability of all actors involved in security.
• Enhanced Legal and Regulatory Frameworks: Establishing robust legal frameworks is essential for ensuring accountability and transparency in NGSIOs collaborations. In South Africa, for instance, private security firms are regulated by the government to ensure they operate within legal and ethical guidelines. Such frameworks provide a blueprint for other African nations looking to formalise and regulate the roles of private security and intelligence actors in their national security strategies.
• Community-Based Intelligence Gathering: Engaging local communities through partnerships with NGOs allows for more nuanced intelligence gathering and early threat detection. The African Union’s Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) has successfully integrated contributions from civil society organizations, which enhances its ability to detect and respond to crises before they escalate. Expanding this model across the continent could provide critical support to governments, especially in remote or vulnerable regions.
Addressing Challenges and Ensuring Sustainable Security
In Amb. Rouamba’s view, the integration of NGSIOs into Africa’s security landscape, while promising, presents certain challenges that must be addressed to ensure success.
Firstly, she said “accountability and transparency are essential to prevent potential abuses by private security firms or community defence groups,” explaining: “Legal safeguards, regular audits, and clearly defined roles can provide a framework for ethical operations that respect human rights and community needs.”
Secondly, she highlighted that “data security is a significant concern, as intelligence-sharing with non-state actors involves handling sensitive information,” therefore, “African governments must establish secure information-sharing protocols and invest in cybersecurity infrastructure to protect against potential breaches that could compromise both national security and public trust.”
Finally, she added: “Continuous feedback from local communities is essential to ensure that security measures are both effective and responsive to the needs of the people. By maintaining open lines of communication and seeking regular input from communities, African governments can build trust and foster greater public support for security initiatives.”
In her opinion, Africa faces “an urgent need to adopt adaptive, inclusive approaches to peace and security that go beyond the traditional state-centric model,” stressing: “The integration of non-governmental security and intelligence organisations into Africa’s security architecture offers a pathway toward more resilient, context-sensitive solutions to the continent’s complex challenges,” and “By engaging private firms, NGOs, and community organisations, African nations can expand their capabilities, foster trust with local populations, and address both the symptoms and root causes of insecurity.”
She said the experiences in Burkina Faso and across the Sahel “have underscored the potential of these partnerships,” and that “By implementing structured frameworks, legal safeguards, and capacity-building initiatives, we can build a comprehensive security network that aligns with the African Union’s vision of a peaceful, prosperous Africa.” This collaborative, hybrid approach, she rallied, “holds the promise of not only enhancing immediate security but also contributing to the sustainable development and well-being of our continent,” urging: “Let us work together, state and non-state actors alike, to create a safer, more secured Africa for future generations.”
