Internal and external oversight institutions of the security sector – like military and police inspectorates, defense committees in Parliaments, ombuds institutions, and independent anti-corruption and human rights commissions are critical to the delivery of national security. These rule of law institutions are crucial to the effective functioning of a system that advances mutual national security goals and responds to the security concerns of citizens. Mechanisms that are tailored to African countries’ unique contexts – and advanced by African practitioners and officials themselves – help African militaries, civilian officials across all three branches of government, and citizens strengthen how countries perform core defense functions (including counterterrorism and countering of organized crime that finances terrorism).
With this in mind, the Africa Center’s security sector oversight and rule of law portfolio seeks to provide a trusted platform for senior-level African defense and security policymakers, defense and security sector oversight officials in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, as well as alumni from civil society, the media, and academia to share information, experiences, and practical solutions about military and civilian oversight, how they influence the pursuit of national security goals, and what successes and challenges officials are likely to encounter in their work to strengthen rule of law institutions for oversight of the security sector.
The robust network of African experts and practitioners on these issues that has been historically cultivated by the Africa Center is committed to strengthening security sector oversight institutions within a rule of law framework that fits their national contexts. By supporting this community of practitioners working in and around rule of law institutions for security sector oversight, the Africa Center improves the ability of African partners and allies to increase their share of the burden in addressing threats and security challenges to U.S. interests and their own. Through this practitioner network, officials ensure that security sector oversight helps security services gain access to the inter-agency information sharing mechanisms, financial and human resources, and popular legitimacy needed to deliver national security effectively.
Programming is tailored to cover emerging trends and African expert-driven debates in these areas, facilitating candid and data-driven exchange that is oriented towards solutions and the highlighting of African institutional innovations that enhance burden sharing. Activities frequently focus on:
- Providing a forum for senior African officials and professional staff in the primary security services, as well as in rule of law institutions for security sector oversight to address challenges and propose innovations in fostering democratic and civilian control of security sectors across the continent.
- Leveraging the ACSS network of practitioners in rule of law institutions for security sector oversight to strengthen three basic elements of the effectiveness of security sector oversight institutions; namely ability, authority, and attitude.
- Facilitating peer learning among African experts from state and society to develop common understandings about how defense and security officials and leaders of security sector oversight institutions can share knowledge, information, and strategics in order to bolster their countries’ provision of national defense and security to the citizens they serve.
Nigeria Defense and Security Governance Forum
Academic Program, May 14-16, 2024
Southern Africa Parliamentarians Forum 2023
Academic Program, November 13–17, 2023
Bolstering Civilian Oversight of the Security Sector: Practitioner Perspectives
Webinar, November 2, 2023
Strengthening the Rule of Law to Mitigate Harm: Security and Justice Provision after Conflict and Transition
Roundtable, August 22–24, 2023
West African Parliamentarians Forum 2023:
Strengthening Relationships between Parliament and the Security Sector
Academic Program, February 27 – March 3, 2023
How Does Expanding Access to Justice Matter for Security?
Academic Webinar, September 20, 2022
How Can Building Relationships with Communities Enhance Sound Security Sector Governance?
Academic Webinar, July 27, 2022
Rule of Law and Security Sector Professionalism in Africa: Lessons Learned from Senegal and Beyond
Academic Webinar, July 26, 2022
How Do National Oversight Institutions Influence Security Sector Governance?
Academic Webinar, April 26, 2022
African Parliamentarians Forum: Parliamentary Pathways to Democratic Security Governance
Virtual Academic Program, March 1–23, 2022
Why Does Rule of Law Matter for Security Sector Effectiveness in Africa?
Academic Webinar, December 16, 2021
Recent Videos
