The Perpetual Challenge of Democratizing Intelligence Services in African Countries

Democratization of intelligence services in Africa has been a very slow process. Whether working for semi-democratic or democratic—as much as for authoritarian—regimes, many African intelligence agencies have been very personalistic, focused predominantly on propping up the regimes in power and maintaining internal security. There have been numerous external programs provided to improve the capabilities and performance of African intelligence operations. In the Sahel region, however, most of these programs have focused on military intelligence, and they may actually have hindered the democratization efforts. Given the likelihood of reductions in these types of programs due to strategic shifts by the US and European countries, the best chance of improving democratization and professionalization may lie in pan-African efforts. Thus far, these have been limited, especially due to issues surrounding sovereignty of African countries, but with proper support and assistance, they may provide the best chance for long-term success.