Editorial 32/1

Abstract

This edition takes us once again on a journey through Africa, starting with the internal security dynamics of Nigeria as one of the continent’s most influential countries. The focus then moves to other dimensions of the security landscape: the contests in cyberspace and outer space, which may have consequences not only for Africa but for all developing countries. The quest for sharing knowledge on ongoing conflicts then brings us to address both the war in the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique and the violent conflict over cattle rustling in Kenya. On this journey it once again becomes evident that security for development and democracy in the local dimension of the security landscape requires collaboration between the armed forces and communities, whereas in the global sphere partnerships to secure development are vital. Collaboration is important for securing communities, but governments should remain aware that measures such as the deployment of ‘volunteers’ or ‘reservists’, although potentially good for community relations, come with certain risks. Furthermore, coercive measures and infringing on the privacy of citizens may facilitate more problems than solutions. Moreover, Africa remains vulnerable to activities in the global battlefield, as well as to the assertion of values and interests into the African space that cause tension in international relations – a situation that is detrimental to development on the continent. In their article ‘Temporary paramilitary volunteers at Nigeria’s Chad and Niger borders: A source of recruitment for Boko Haram’, Adeleke Gbadebo Fatai et al. address the role of ‘temporary volunteers’ in controlling crime in sub-Saharan countries, with the emphasis on crime control duties along Nigeria’s borders. The authors report that inadequate training, non-hierarchical leadership, poor conditions of service and administrative and technical challenges often cause these volunteers to become involved in criminal activities themselves. Ogundiya Ilufoye Sarafa and Titus Utibe Monday continue the theme of policing in their examination of how community policing can serve as a solution to insecurity in Nigeria. In their article ‘Climbing the roof with the right ladder: Community policing as an antidote to the internal security crisis in Nigeria’, the authors argue that the social and political environments in Nigeria are so infused by ongoing conflicts that the country has become ‘one of the most unsafe places’ in the world. In this condition of insecurity, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has failed. To remedy this situation, effective collaboration with citizens is required. Staying in Nigeria, Newman U. Richards and Felix E. Eboibi engage with the cybersecurity landscape, pointing out the risk of owners of electronic devices being compelled by the government to disable security features on devices that contributed to recent protests. In their article ‘Cybercrime perspectives to the ‘ENDSARS’ protest in Nigeria’, the authors assert that a structured cybercrime investigation process aligned to the best practices in developed countries such as the United States (US) is needed in Nigeria. In their article ‘A grey zone: The contours of outer space armed conflict and South Africa’s national interests’, Susan Henrico et al. analyse the potential risks of a space war to South