ALEXANDRIA, Virginia — A clear national security strategy—one that addresses leadership and ethical questions for security forces—and strategic media engagement are critical to win the support of populations while fighting violent extremists, Dr. Benjamin Nickels, Academic Chair of Transnational Threats at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS) told participants at the Next Generation of African Security Sector Leaders program on October 25, 2013.
Dr. Nickels spoke to an audience of nearly 60 participants from 40 African countries. He provided them with an assessment of the fight against violent extremism in Africa, as well as the leadership and ethical questions it raises.
Dr. Nickels provided an overview of violent extremist groups operating in Africa and the drivers behind extremism, including weak states, corruption, and the youth bulge. He also stressed that in some cases, African leaders have lost their moral compass and let their countries sink into corruption and abuse by government officials, paving ground for violent extremist groups to build on grievances and to carry forth people’s frustration.
» Photo Gallery: Next Generation of African Security Sector Leaders
“Violent extremism offers an alternative to those who feel sidelined by the society they live in” said Dr. Nickels. “It appeals to their [religious and traditional] beliefs, and to their feeling of being unfairly treated by the ruling power.”
Confronting increasingly interconnected violent extremist groups is a difficult task for security sector professionals, Dr. Nickels said. It can call for the use of force to protect citizens’ safety, a duty that often raises ethical questions.
Drawing on conversations with security forces on the ground, Dr. Nickels described three questions that are often asked when using force against violent extremists:
- Can I use force?
- May I use force?
- Should I use force?
Dr. Nickels added that the third question can be the most challenging, because it concerns the consequences of kinetic actions taken by any security forces.
“The ability and right to use force are not sufficient by themselves,” Dr. Nickels insisted. “It is most important to assess the consequences of force on the overall strategy. Inappropriate use of force can yield negative consequences in winning the support of communities, not to mention that it can be a road block to the gathering of valuable intelligence.”
It is therefore critical, he added, to carefully assess when and how to use force. It is equally critical to avoid any abuse by political or armed forces, especially after an attack.
Finally, Dr. Nickels said that to avoid dilemmas, African countries should lay out a national security strategy that defines the vision and mission of the security forces. He also emphasized the need for training and transparency in the security sector—to upgrade the professionalism of security forces—as well as improved communication strategies. He said that security forces in Africa need to update their media outreach, for the sake of better understanding by the populations of the role of security professionals.
“Security forces should definitely increase their strategic engagement with the media,” he said. Even though journalists are sometimes improperly trained and therefore don’t always adhere to professional standards and a sense of fairness, he said that security forces need to work with media to create a better understanding of their actions among their peoples. “Security forces must be able to tell their own story, so that the use of force is better explained to populations.”
The Africa Center is the pre-eminent Department of Defense institution for strategic security studies, research, and outreach in Africa. ACSS offers a range of academic symposiums, workshops, and programs throughout Africa, the United States, and Europe. Since 1999, more than 6,000 African and international leaders have participated in ACSS programs.
