From Chaos to Cohesion: A Regional Approach to Security, Stability, and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa
Abstract
Conflicts and extremism are almost certain to continue to rise in Africa, especially with instability resulting from the cascade of unrest across North Africa and the Middle East, the burgeoning youth bulge in Sub-Saharan Africa, African mercenaries, rising Islamic extremism, myriad wild, ungoverned spaces, and increasing resource shortages resulting from human activities and climate change across the Continent. In order to protect our troops while ensuring stability in the region, we must develop the capacity of a Pan-African force to deal effectively with these and other likely problems as they arise. Prevention is the key to effective policies in Africa, whether the issue is equitable resource exploitation, ethnic conflict, infectious diseases, or famine. Beginning now to develop well-trained, disciplined, and well-equipped military and police forces that can ensure stability in place of our own troops in future conflicts and emergencies is a long-range stabilizing method certain to pay for itself in the long-term. This monograph provides a path toward developing a viable African Union capable of serving as a supranational governing body to drive stability, security, and economic development by strengthening the capability of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) as the first step in a longer-term integration process. Carefully implementing such a pan-continental strategy is highly likely to have the net effect over the next 20 years of attaining a considerable competitive advantage for the U.S. economically, militarily, and politically, with a corresponding increase in stability, security, and economic opportunity in that region.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA579148
Entities
People
- Diane E. Chido
Organizations
- United States Army War College