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African Security in the Twenty-First Century: The Challenges of Indigenization and Multilateralism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 May 2014

Stephen F. Burgess
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Abstract:

With the onset of the twenty-first century, power distribution has become a key factor in African security. In western and southern Africa, power has become more concentrated and hierarchical, especially with the growing assertiveness of three regional powers, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe, and organizations (ECOWAS and SADC) which have the authority, salience and capability to mount and lead security operations. In contrast, in central and eastern Africa, anarchy remains prevalent and helps to explain the failure to enforce peace in both Rwanda and Somalia. The indigenization of peace enforcement in western and southern Africa has been accompanied by high levels of salience, as regional forces have struggled to prevent spillover of conflicts into their home countries. African forces have been more willing than the United Nations and other outsiders to accept the costs of “crossing the line,” taking sides, and enforcing peace. The record of peace enforcement and interventionism for humanitarian purposes has been mixed. For example, ECOMOG peace enforcement in Liberia and Sierra Leone prevented seizures of power and retribution and allowed peace-making to begin in which agreements were reached and implemented and in which elected governments came to power. On the other hand, ECOMOG committed its share of abuses and prolonged conflicts and humanitarian crises that could have been ended fairly quickly by force.

Resumé:

Resumé:

avec l'approche du vingt et unième siècle, les rapports de force sont devenus un élément-clef dans la sécurité de l'Afrique. Dans les régions occidentales et australes, le pouvoir est devenu plus concentré et plus hiérarchique, notamment avec l'affirmation croissante de trois pouvoirs régionaux dont le Nigeria, l'Afrique du Sud, le Zimbabwe et d'organisations (CDAO et SADC) ayant l'autorité, la notoriété et la capacité de mettre sur pied et de diriger des opérations de sécurité. Par contre, l'anarchie qui règne en Afrique centrale et en Afrique de l'Est explique l'échec du maintien de la paix aussi bien au Rwanda qu'en Somalie. L'indigénisation du maintien de la paix en Afrique occidentale et australe s'est accompagnée d'une grande popularité, pendant que les forces régionales luttaient pour empêcher le déferlement des conflits dans leur pays d'origine. Les forces africaines sont plus disposées que les Nations Unies et les autres étrangers à accepter le risque de “traverser la frontière” pour maintenir la paix. Le bilan du maintien de la paix et de l'interventionnisme à des fins humanitaires est mitigé. Par exemple, le maintien de la paix par l'ECOMOG au Liberia et en Sierra Leone a empêché des prises de pouvoir permettant ainsi le début d'un processus de paix dans le cadre duquel des accords ont été mis en pratique et des gouvernements élus sont venus au pouvoir. Certes, l'ECOMOG a aussi perpétré des abus et a prolongé des conflits et des crises humanitaires qui auraient pu être résolus assez rapidement par l'usage de la force.

Type
Articles
Information
African Studies Review , Volume 41 , Issue 2 , September 1998 , pp. 37 - 62
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 1998

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