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ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES THE ROLE OF PRIVATE MILITARY AND SECURITY COMPANIES IN AFRICAN CONFLICTS: WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO CONFLICTS IN SIERRA LEONE AND ANGOLA BY EYASU GIZAW WOLDE ADDIS ABABA APRIL 2011 THE ROLE OF PRIVATE MILITARY AND SECURITY COMPANIES IN AFRICAN CONFLICTS: WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO CONFLICTS IN SIERRA LEONE AND ANGOLA BY EYASU GIZAW WOLDE A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES OF ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ADVISOR DR. TAREKEGN ADEBO ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RALATIONS ADDIS ABABA APRIL 2011 ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES THE ROLE OF PRIVATE MILITARY AND SECURITY COMPANIES IN AFRICAN CONFLICTS: WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO CONFLICTS IN SIERRA LEONE AND ANGOLA BY EYASU GIZAW WOLDE COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RALATIONS ADDIS ABABA APRIL 2011 ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES The Role of Private Military and Security Companies in African Conflicts: With Particular Reference to the Conflicts in Sierra Leone and Angola BY EYASU GIZAW WOLDE APPROVED BY BOARD OF EXAMINERS SIGNATURE DATE _______________ _________ ______ ADVISOR ________________ _________ _______ EXAMINER ADDIS ABABA APRIL 2011 Table of Contents Page Table of contents…………………………….…………………………..……………….……….i Acronyms……………………………………………………………………………....…………iv Acknowledgments…………………………………………………….………….……………...vi Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………….vii Chapter I ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1. Background ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem .................................................................................................. 4 1.3. Objective of the Study ...................................................................................................... 6 1.4. Research Questions........................................................................................................... 6 1.5. Research Methodology ..................................................................................................... 7 1.6. Method and Source of Data .............................................................................................. 7 1.7. Significance of the Study .................................................................................................. 8 1.8. Organization of the Research ........................................................................................... 8 1.9. Scope and Limitation of the Study ................................................................................... 8 Chapter II .................................................................................................................................................... 9 Literature Review: Conceptual Framework and Theoretical Perspective ................................... 9 2.1. Literature Review ............................................................................................................. 9 2.1.1. Private Military Actors and Conflict in Historical Context and Recent Wars ........... 9 2.1.2. Private Military Actors/Mercenaries in Africa ........................................................ 11 2.1.3. PMSCs in Sierra Leone ............................................................................................ 13 2.1.4. PMSCs in Angola .................................................................................................... 15 2.1.5. The Emergence of PMSCs, their Impact on State Sovereignty and Military Functions ............................................................................................................................ 17 2.1.6. Some Factors that led to the Development of PMSCs after the Cold War in Africa ................................................................................................................................. 23 2.1.7. Manifestations of Privatization of Security in Africa .............................................. 23 2.2. Conceptual Framework................................................................................................... 24 2.2.1. Private Military Industry .......................................................................................... 24 i 2.2.2. Private Military Companies (PMCs) ....................................................................... 24 2. 2. 3. Private Security Companies (PSCs) ....................................................................... 26 2.2.4. Private Military Firms (PMFs)................................................................................. 26 2.2.5. Mercenary ................................................................................................................ 27 2.3. War Making as a Sovereign Act and a Sign of Legitimate Actorhood in IR – A Theoretical Perspective.......................................................................................................... 28 Chapter III ................................................................................................................................................. 32 Contextualizing the Resurgence of Private Military and Security Companies in the Post-Cold War Period in Africa ................................................................................................ 32 3.1. Weak African Rulers and the Privatization of Security ................................................. 33 3.2. The end of the Cold War and the Privatization of Security ............................................ 36 3.3. Liberalization and the Process of State Formation in Africa as Contributing Factors for Privatization of Security ...................................................................................... 39 3.4. The Changing Nature of Warfare in Africa and Privatization of Security ..................... 42 Chapter IV ................................................................................................................................................ 45 The Role of Private Military and Security Companies in the Sierra Leone and Angolan Conflicts .................................................................................................................................... 45 4.1. Sierra Leone .................................................................................................................... 45 4.1.1. State Decay and Privatization of Security in Sierra Leone ...................................... 45 4.1.2. The Conflict in Sierra Leone and the Role of PMSCs ............................................. 51 4.2. Angola ............................................................................................................................ 59 4.2.1. Internal Strife and Privatization of Security in Angola ........................................... 59 4.2.2. The Role of PMSCs in the Angolan Conflict .......................................................... 64 4.2.3. Other Private Military and Security Companies in Angola ..................................... 68 4.3. Private Military Forces across the Conflict Divide in Sierra Leone and Angola ........... 71 4.4. The Cost of Security in Sierra Leone and Angola .......................................................... 72 Chapter V .................................................................................................................................................. 76 Challenges Posed by PMSCs and Responses to Security Privatization .................................... 76 5.1. Challenges Posed by Private Military and Security Companies in Africa ..................... 76 5.1.2. Privatization of Security and its Impact on State Sovereignty and the legitimate use of Force .......................................................................................................... 76 ii 5.1.3. Private Military and Security Companies and their Impact on Human Rights ........ 79 5.1.4. Private Military and Security Companies and Exploitation (Looting) of Natural Resources .............................................................................................................. 83 5.1.5. Private Military and Security Companies and Arms Proliferation .......................... 85 5.1.6. Private Military and Security Companies and Escalation of Conflicts .................... 87 5.2. Responses to Privatization of Security ........................................................................... 91 Chapter VI ................................................................................................................................................ 99 Summary and Concluding Remarks .......................................................................................... 99 References ............................................................................................................................................... 104 iii Acronyms AFRC Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (Sierra Leone) APC All People‟s