The African post-conflict policing agenda in Sierra Leone

Somalia: Making Human Rights Central to the State Rebuilding

“…For instance, many members of the former police force may be implicated in human rights violations and corruption; and others may have actively taken part in the civil war in different capacities (Baker, 2006). In fully collapsed states where state institutions, including the police, have disintegrated and not functioned for years, it is more dif icult and challenging to create a coherent and credible police force that can earn the trust of the public and thus legitimacy.…”

“…The report went on to state: "In the medium term, infrastructure and specialised police training will be essential". Surprisingly, the UN notes, "in the long term police reform and a restructuring programme should be implemented in line with the national security sector strategy for Somalia" 5 . It appears a confused prioritisation.…”

“…Recreating the old police force and returning to ante-bellum may not offer solace, and may exacerbate the situation, given the fact that more often than not "oppressive policing, nepotism and corruption" characterised the old order. Furthermore, the repressive nature of pubic policing and its concomitant human rights violations were all "contributory factors to the outbreak and continuance of con lict" (Baker, 2006, p. 28).…”

Becoming and Remaining a ‘Force for Good’– Reforming the Police in Post‐conflict Sierra Leone

“…Other studies (Meek 2003;Baker 2006;Gbla et al 2009;Albrecht and Jackson 2009;Albrecht 2010) have detailed the extent and content of spending on reforming the SLP, so suffice it here to say simply that none of the progress would have been possible or even imaginable without the sustained provision of funds by international donorsranging from technical advice, staff training (including courses abroad), the provision of vehicles and other logistics, recruitment, the construction and rehabilitation of police structures and so on. Most of this has been from DFID (see Box 6.2), channelled through the CPDTF but support has also been received from the UN, regionally from Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Nigerian Government in particular, and a whole host of other international donors funding different aspects.…”

“…Much has been written and made of the process undertaken to reform Sierra Leone's Security Sector, after the country's civil war ended in 2002 (Baker 2005;Albrecht and Jackson 2009;Albrecht 2010). The Sierra Leone Police (SLP), in particular, has received much attention.…”