The Nexus Between Military Rule and Private Military and Security Companies in the Sahel and its Impact on Terrorism

Authors

  • Yasmin PAF Air War College Institute
  • Sehrish PAF Air War College Institute

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59569/jceeas.2024.4.2.284

Keywords:

Wagner Group, Sahel, Military Junta, Private Military and Security Company, Terrorism, Fragile States

Abstract

The Sahel’s tumultuous political landscape amidst successive coups by military juntas has become a hotbed for terrorists taking advantage of the ungoverned spaces created by the disconnect between states and their people to garner support and expand their influence. These coups are often sustained with the assistance of private military and security companies (PMSCs) like the Africa Corps of Wagner Group in terms of operating beyond legal frameworks exacerbating the already persisting fragility of these states. This not only perpetuates insecurity, but also makes the local population increasingly vulnerable to being recruited by terrorist groups due to the lack of trust towards the state and its security apparatus. States such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have a history of military coups and interventions. As such, by using a constructivist lens for the aforementioned case-studies, the intricate relationship between military regimes and PMSCs’ impact on terrorism can be evaluated via a multidisciplinary approach. Understanding this nexus is crucial for developing a holistic approach that identifies both the symptoms and root causes of instability to address terrorism in the Sahel.

Author Biographies

Yasmin, PAF Air War College Institute

Yasmin Arshad currently holds the position of Researcher at the PAF Air War College Institute (AWCI) in Karachi, Pakistan. Previously, she served as a Research Fellow at the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women, Government of Sindh, Pakistan. In this role, she was responsible for managing women's rights cases, projects, and law reviews, including initiatives focused on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) and Peacebuilding in collaboration with various government departments, law enforcement agencies, and international NGOs such as the United Nations. Before her tenure at the Sindh Commission, she completed her MA in International Studies and Diplomacy from SOAS University of London, where her research interests centred around non-traditional security issues and their implications for national security. Additionally, she has contributed to the academic discourse through publication in the peer-reviewed journal Pakistan Horizon, where she explored the concept of Feminist Foreign Policy. Furthermore, she is an active member of the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs, engaging in scholarly and policy dialogues on international affairs and security issues.

Sehrish, PAF Air War College Institute

Dr Sehrish Qayyum holds the position of Assistant Professor at the Air War College Institute (AWCI) in Karachi. Prior to this, she served as an Assistant Professor at the Pakistan Navy War College (PNWC) in Lahore. Dr Qayyum earned her PhD in Political Science from the Department of Political Science at the University of Punjab in Lahore, Pakistan. Notably, she was honoured as an HEC Indigenous PhD Fellow from 2017 to 2020, becoming the youngest PhD recipient in the field of Political Science in Pakistan. Dr Qayyum has conducted extensive research on the Pak-Afghan border, focusing particularly on the proposed Coordinated Border Management System and developing the War-Control Theory. She is a member of the International Studies Association in the USA and has been awarded a research grant by the SDPI-CRVE Research Network. Dr Qayyum has presented her research findings at numerous national and international conferences, contributing significantly to the academic discourse on strategic security and warfare tactics. In addition to her academic roles, Dr Qayyum has enriched her professional experience by working at the United Nations Development Program in Pakistan for four years within the Democratic Governance Unit. Furthermore, she shares her expertise as a visiting faculty member at the Department of Political Science, University of Punjab.

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Published

2024-12-11

How to Cite

Yasmin, & Qayyum, S. . (2024). The Nexus Between Military Rule and Private Military and Security Companies in the Sahel and its Impact on Terrorism. Journal of Central and Eastern European African Studies, 4(2), 65–87. https://doi.org/10.59569/jceeas.2024.4.2.284

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 2 (2024): JCEEAS - Vol 4. Number 2 2024

Section

Articles