Africa Center · @africacenter
352 followers · 156 posts · Server mastodon.social

“The armed forces in many African countries represent a threat to security because of their lack of military professionalism.”

doesn't just mean a military being competent and doing its job well, it means not getting involved in other professions—like politics.

The of and the of militaries make for less professionalism on both counts.

africacenter.org/spotlight/dee

#militaryprofessionalism #militarization #politics #politicization #africa #security #governance #democracy

Last updated 2 years ago

Africa Center · @africacenter
352 followers · 156 posts · Server mastodon.social

There are many secondary effects of military that don't get a lot of attention—such as the damage to anti- efforts, which lose civilian oversight.

Involvement in politics—or worse, seizing control of the government—is strongly contrary to the ideal of a professional , as shown time and again by the truly abysmal record of governance that military has in Africa.

africacenter.org/spotlight/dee

#coups #corruption #military #dictatorship #africa #governance #security #militaryprofessionalism

Last updated 2 years ago

Africa Center · @africacenter
352 followers · 156 posts · Server mastodon.social

“There is a correlation between military effectiveness and the relationship between a country’s and the public. … An that does not invest in education and in relation to the population pays a price in terms of .”
—Gen. Mbaye Cissé, NSA to the President of Senegal

africacenter.org/spotlight/dee

#military #army #ethics #security #africa #militaryprofessionalism #governance

Last updated 2 years ago

Africa Center · @africacenter
352 followers · 156 posts · Server mastodon.social

is a standard of conduct upheld by members of the armed forces committed to the values of service to the public, subordination to democratic civilian authority, allegiance to the constitution, political neutrality, and respect for the rule of law and human rights.

Read our most popular research paper, which has been used as a manual for African militaries seeking to become more democratic and professional:

africacenter.org/publication/a

#militaryprofessionalism #africa #democracy

Last updated 2 years ago

Africa Center · @africacenter
352 followers · 156 posts · Server mastodon.social

Military professionalism is a means to effectively provide security for citizens in a manner that upholds the rule of law and safeguards human rights.

Read more about why it's so important for functioning democracies and how to increase it in African militaries that need it in our Spotlight on the roundtable discussion by African military leaders, hosted by the Africa Center and NDU earlier this month:

africacenter.org/spotlight/dee

#military #militaryprofessionalism #africa #democracy

Last updated 2 years ago

Africa Center · @africacenter
352 followers · 156 posts · Server mastodon.social

“It is the absence of clear borders between the political and military arenas that leads to decreased .”

Unfortunately, is a challenge for many African militaries because of the legacy of colonialism, explains General Mbaye Cissé, when “security forces’ main mission was . [They] were not united, they were artificial, and were too present in the political arena. This is an ongoing handicap.”

buff.ly/3HVtTyi

#stability #militaryprofessionalism #repression #africa #security #democracy

Last updated 2 years ago

Africa Center · @africacenter
288 followers · 66 posts · Server mastodon.social

Central to creating a culture of is instilling in soldiers of all ranks core societal values & principles that the aspires to. Creating shared values has a unifying effect on a military & amplifies effectiveness.

A primary vehicle for institutionalizing an ethos of military professionalism is professional military education. PME is particularly vital for “emphasizing values, including upholding the rule of law,” said Langley.

#militaryprofessionalism #military #democratic #democracy #security

Last updated 2 years ago

Africa Center · @africacenter
352 followers · 156 posts · Server mastodon.social

Central to creating a culture of is instilling in soldiers of all ranks core societal values & principles that the aspires to. Creating shared values has a unifying effect on a military & amplifies effectiveness.

A primary vehicle for institutionalizing an ethos of military professionalism is professional military education. PME is particularly vital for “emphasizing values, including upholding the rule of law,” said Langley.

#militaryprofessionalism #military #democratic #democracy #security

Last updated 2 years ago

Africa Center · @africacenter
288 followers · 65 posts · Server mastodon.social

“The ultimate decision-makers are leaders. … Every should strive to be apolitical so they can be objective with their advice.”
—Gen. Michael Langley, Commander of US Command

#civilian #military #africa #civmil #civmilrelations #democracy #governance #security #militaryprofessionalism

Last updated 2 years ago

Africa Center · @africacenter
352 followers · 156 posts · Server mastodon.social

“The ultimate decision-makers are leaders. … Every should strive to be apolitical so they can be objective with their advice.”
—Gen. Michael Langley, Commander of US Command

#civilian #military #africa #civmil #civmilrelations #democracy #governance #security #militaryprofessionalism

Last updated 2 years ago

Africa Center · @africacenter
288 followers · 64 posts · Server mastodon.social

leaders need to trust civilian decision-making … Civilians have the right to be wrong. Their job is to make decisions—and then to be held accountable. … Trust does not just happen, though. It needs to be earned.”
— Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth

#military #security #militaryprofessionalism #africa

Last updated 2 years ago

Africa Center · @africacenter
352 followers · 156 posts · Server mastodon.social

leaders need to trust civilian decision-making … Civilians have the right to be wrong. Their job is to make decisions—and then to be held accountable. … Trust does not just happen, though. It needs to be earned.”
— Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth

#democracy #military #security #militaryprofessionalism #africa

Last updated 2 years ago

Africa Center · @africacenter
288 followers · 63 posts · Server mastodon.social

With most threats to African emerging from domestic crises, professionalism can be an indispensable stabilizing factor.

The Center and National Defense University cohosted a lively roundtable discussion on last week on the sidelines of the US– Leaders Summit.

Here (below and in the link) are some highlights and insights into civil-military relations that came out of the event …

africacenter.org/spotlight/dee

#security #military #africa #militaryprofessionalism

Last updated 2 years ago

Africa Center · @africacenter
352 followers · 156 posts · Server mastodon.social

With most threats to African emerging from domestic crises, professionalism can be an indispensable stabilizing factor.

The Africa Center and National Defense University cohosted a lively roundtable discussion on last week on the sidelines of the US– Leaders Summit.

Here (below and in the link) are some highlights and insights into civil-military relations that came out of the event …

africacenter.org/spotlight/dee

#democracy #security #military #africa #militaryprofessionalism

Last updated 2 years ago

Africa Center · @africacenter
286 followers · 62 posts · Server mastodon.social

With most African conflicts and threats to citizen security emerging from domestic political crises, military professionalism can be an indispensable stabilizing factor for a society.

Last weeks roundtable on was full of insights by security practitioners into civil-military relations:

africacenter.org/spotlight/dee

#security #civmil #military #democracy #africa #conflict #stability #militaryprofessionalism

Last updated 2 years ago

Africa Center · @africacenter
352 followers · 156 posts · Server mastodon.social

With most African conflicts and threats to citizen security emerging from domestic political crises, military professionalism can be an indispensable stabilizing factor for a society.

Last week's roundtable on was full of insights by security practitioners into civil-military relations:

africacenter.org/spotlight/dee

#security #civmil #military #democracy #africa #conflict #stability #militaryprofessionalism

Last updated 2 years ago

Africa Center · @africacenter
162 followers · 49 posts · Server mastodon.social

As one African participant put it during yesterday's roundtable cohosted by the Africa Center and National Defense University:

Without anchored in civilian oversight and values, instability will reign & will be constantly starting over.

#militaryprofessionalism #democratic #africa

Last updated 2 years ago

Africa Center · @africacenter
352 followers · 156 posts · Server mastodon.social

As one African participant put it during yesterday's roundtable cohosted by the Africa Center and National Defense University:

Without anchored in civilian oversight and values, instability will reign & will be constantly starting over.

#militaryprofessionalism #democratic #africa

Last updated 2 years ago