Background
On 26 February 2009, the book: ‘Security System Transformation in Sierra Leone, 1997-2007’ was launched at DFID. The publication was commissioned by the UK Government Global Conflict Prevention Pool and led by the GFN-SSR with significant input from International Alert. It details the security sector transformation process in Sierra Leone over the period 1997-2007.
The launch event included a panel, chaired by Garth Glentworth, lead Governance Adviser for DFID’s aid programme in Sierra Leone between 1996 and 2005. Co-author Peter Albrecht talked about how the objective of the book is to provide a detailed explanation of SSR in Sierra Leone not merely as a sectoral reform but as a transformation of how security was provided and managed, as well as to how it offered the stability required to guarantee a stable and peaceful country. Sierra Leone is often held up as THE example of SSR, but closer examination revealed that there was no SSR strategy at the beginning of this process and things generally happened because of the context and situation and the overarching aim of establishing stability. The security transformation process in Sierra Leone benefited from unprecedented flexibility due to the absence of SSR as a concept in Sierra Leone at the end of the 1990s. Furthermore, the processes were strongly personality-driven and the influence of Claire Short and others should not be underestimated.
The background to SSR in Sierra Leone, development of SSR as a concept, and its consolidation as a framework for security transformation were discussed at the book launch, as were the challenges Sierra Leone faced throughout this process and the lessons learned as a result.
Distinguished Sierra Leonean speakers Major General Alfred Claude Nelson-Williams, Emmanuel B. Osho Coker and Kellie Conteh provided a Sierra Leonean perspective to the security transformation process.
Issues Discussed
National Ownership
The security transformation process was created, developed and consolidated at the national level in Freetown. The process was initiated in Freetown and most of the work was carried out there, although the transformation spread beyond the capital to different chiefdoms in collaboration with the UNDP and other agencies. It seems the key to the success of the security transformation was the consistent determined efforts of the core group of actors in Sierra Leone. Although external assistance cannot be ignored, the SSR process in Sierra Leone was nationally owned by its leaders and institutions.
Development
Development was touched upon as a crucial determinant for maintaining security, and vice versa. The army was used as a mechanism to implement development projects such as the government’s food self-sufficiency policy, or engaging in infrastructural developments such as road building. This flexible approach and ability to use ’security’ actors in a ’development’ context was very effective.
Police
While the security transformation dealt directly with military transformations, Osho Coker highlighted the importance of improving communication and monitoring between the military and the policing sector as well as other issues such as drug and human trafficking. The newly established Ministry of Internal Affairs and Rural Development must become the voice of the police at the national level.
Immediate Neighbours
Despite the success of security transformation in Sierra Leone in achieving a stable environment for its people, and the running of peaceful elections for the first time in twenty years, the speakers were aware of the necessity of maintaining consistent SSR efforts. This is particularly important given the vulnerability of Sierra Leone due to its geographic location amongst unstable states. Sierra Leone still remains vulnerable due to its role in drug trafficking as a transit country between Latin America and Europe. Kellie Conteh highlighted the importance of exporting the lessons learnt from the Sierra Leonean security transformation beyond the Sierra Leonean borders.
Duration of term of military advisors
The duration of term of military advisors was a key issue. From the Sierra Leonean perspective, it was suggested the stay of external military advisors should be extended in order to provide time for them to understand the local context and mentality in which they would deliver their expertise. Attention was drawn to the possible frustration that may arise amongst individuals who were inexperienced in working in Africa. The issue of the need for longer-term postings for all foreign staff in-country was also discussed in light of the time and efforts that are lost when there is no effective handover from one postholder to the next, and that inexperienced people can sometimes be posted to a situation in which they have no idea what they are supposed to be doing.
Other issues covered in the discussion included:
- The message that Sierra Leone sends to donors concerning the requirement of long-term commitment and involvement;
- The benefit of single external actor involvement in order to prevent delays due to aid coordination when multiple actors are present;
- The work carried out in order to regain public support for the military, and for people to change their attitudes towards the military;
- The need to go beyond SSR and divert focus to development issues such as education.
Conclusions
In the words of Kellie Conteh: “Life is dynamic and SSR is a process.” The Sierra Leonean experience illustrates the benefits of SSR in establishing a stable peaceful state in a post-conflict situation. However, the overall stance remains that relapse is still a possible outcome, the results achieved must be maintained, and further developments need to be implemented especially in terms of human development. The lessons learnt from Sierra Leone could and should be used in SSR programmes in other countries, especially in states surrounding Sierra Leone such as Liberia and Guinea, which remain weak in providing a secure and stable environment for their people.
The GFN would like to thank Peter Albrecht for his enormous role in producing this book, and the project working group for their valuable insights and perspectives which were encapsulated in the working papers and the book.
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