SSR Case Study:
SSR in the Central African Republic

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  SSR in the Central African Republic

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Security Sector Reform in the Central African Republic (CAR)

The Central African Republic is in the midst of a political process that aims to bring peace, security and stability to a country that has experienced a wide range of socio-political disturbances in recent years. As a result of this instability, the CAR security apparatus is currently facing a number of challenges such as a lack of discipline, under-staffing, and poor equipment. In addition, the politicisation of the security sector undermines governance and accountability standards. Combined with a lack of unity within the state, these problems have resulted in several mutinies and coups, further reinforcing a sense of insecurity. The northern regions of CAR continue to face direct security challenges from attacks by the “zaraguinas” (road cutters). It is within this context that the government initiated a security sector reform (SSR) process in 2008.

The SSR process in the CAR was formally launched during a National Seminar held in April 2008. The preparation of the seminar, supported by UNDP, brought together representatives from key constituencies within the country (national institutions, youth and women’s organisations, human rights advocacy groups, economic milieus, private security companies, etc). The main objectives for the seminar included informing and sensitising potential security sector stakeholders (including national, sub-regional, and international partners) on the envisaged SSR approach for the CAR. The seminar also provided a forum to explain the purpose of SSR and the reasons behind the reform process, thereby defining the main pillars for the new National Security Strategy, setting up implementation modalities and coordination mechanisms, and establishing an agenda for reform measures to be adopted.

A twofold structure was established to oversee the SSR process, including a National Committee, managed by a permanent technical secretariat and an International Committee, in charge of coordinating the financial and technical assistance.

The reforms envisaged target the wider spectrum of security actors and include some of the following visions and goals:

• Transformation of the armed forces from an “army of projection” to a “garrison army”, with a reorganisation of the territorial distribution, which would include building barracks in each of the six military regions.
• Quantitative and qualitative improvement of the gendarmerie and police workforce and equipment, as well as rationalisation of their organisational structures.
• Reform of the intelligence service. Priorities include: establishing the intelligence services within the entire territory of the CAR; creating a three-level coordination structure that encompasses both strategic and tactical intelligence structures (at the political, police headquarters and local levels); professionalising the agents and ensuring their accountability; and improving intelligence operational capacities with regard to human, financial, material and technical resources.
• Reorganisation of the customs services by developing a military training programme for its staff, increasing the workforce and elaborating new codes of procedures.
• Empowerment of the Parliament’s Committee on Defence to strengthen its capacities and broaden its competencies in the area of defence and security.

The Political Inclusive Dialogue (PID) held in December 2008 validated the outcomes of the SSR Seminar and placed SSR within the context of a broader national dialogue process. However, in order to fully translate these principles into meaningful changes in security and justice provision on the ground, significant progress will have to be made regarding the implementation of the SSR action plan, the outcomes of the PID and the DDR process.

This summary is based on the findings from recent missions to the Central African Republic by DCAF’s International Security Sector Advisory Team (ISSAT). The ISSAT is a multi-donor initiative, based at the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). The ISSAT brings together policy and operational Security Sector (SSR) expertise, from the developmental, security, defence and diplomatic domains, in order to provide the international community with comprehensive advice both on the technical and the process aspects of supporting SSR.
For information on the UNDP support to the SSR process in the CAR see http://hdptcar.net/ssr/

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Useful links for the CAR

• BBC Country Profile
• Research Group on the Democratic, Economic and Social Development of Africa
• The Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team (HDPT)
• International Crisis Group
• The European Centre for Conflict Prevention
• The International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA)
• The Partnership for Effective Peacekeeping
• Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
• AfriMAP, the Africa Governance Monitoring and Advocacy Project
• ReliefWeb
  

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GFN-SSR Document Library

The Document Library contains links to a number of SSR related documents either focussing specifically on SSR in CAR looking at the country alongside others as a case study. A selection of these are listed below:

• Beyond Demobilization: Challenges and Opportunities for Security Sector Reform in the Central African Republic

  The Central African Republic (CAR) has all the problems of a state emerging from prolonged conflict. How can its challenges best be met? This study from the World Bank argues that the political process since elections in 2005 offers an opportunity for security sector reform in CAR, but there needs to be continued support from key international partners. Reform could contribute to ending the recurring political role of the armed forces, while making the sector better equipped to deal with current and future security challenges.

• Armed Conflict and Disarmament: Selected Central African Case Studies

  Proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALWs) continues to undermine development, the security of citizens and good governance in Africa. Author Nelson Alusala reports on the status of SALWs and disarmament in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Central African Republic (CAR) and Chad. The monograph includes historical, political and cultural context for each country’s struggles to control SALWs, and recommends actions to control SALWs and arms trafficking.

• Armed Movements in Sudan, Chad, Central African Republic, Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia

  What are the roots of conflict in the Greater Horn of Africa and who are the main rebel groups? This study from the Center for International Peace Operations analyses armed groups in Sudan, Chad, Central African Republic (CAR), Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea with regard to their social and ethnic background, their political and military relevance, as well as their leaders and the countries supporting them with arms and money. All the groups are informal unlike the well-organised guerilla movements of the Communist era, which makes the Horn an extremely volatile political environment.

• DDR 2008: Analysis of Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programmes in the World during 2007

  How should disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programmes be implemented? This School for a Culture of Peace report argues that DDR should be seen less as a technical procedure and more as a process dependent on the context of where it is implemented. The paper therefore aims to draw lessons from a comparative analysis of DDR programmes in 19 countries.