International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences (IJELS) Vol-3, Issue-6, Nov - Dec, 2018 https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijels.3.6.35 ISSN: 2456-7620 The Challenges of Human Security in Sub- Saharan Africa: The Way Forward Akpan, Nse Etim, PhD1; Edeki, John Enesi, PhD2; Nwokah, Imere Lordmizer3 1Department of Political Science, 1Federal University Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria E-mail: [email protected] 2Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, Mabushi, Abuja, FCT. E:mail: [email protected] 3Department of Political Science, Federal University Wukari, Wukari, Taraba State Email; [email protected] Abstract— The increased interaction of societies on a African actors involved in conflict resolution and global dimension evidently provides for the overall need prevention has considerably increased as has their for human security especially in the African continent effectiveness, in particular in the framework of sub- where the number of conflicts is still overwhelming. This regional initiative. However, one of the major issues is to paper examined the challenges of human security in Sub- explore the ways and means of enhancing that Saharan Africa with a view to suggesting the way effectiveness at both regional and sub-regional levels. forward. Anchored on a qualitative method and with Indeed, lessons can be drawn from past and ongoing reliance on secondary sources of data, it argued that processes of negotiation and mediation with a view to there is need to better understand the nature of the reinforcing conflict prevention mechanisms, including rapidly evolving large-scale challenges that can have a discussions on the nature and purpose of an African major impact on individuals and populations. The paper peace-keeping force. further observed that it is imperative to strengthen the Human security is concerned with safeguarding mobilization of wide range of actors involved in policy and expanding the vital freedom of peoples. It requires formulation that affects the unfolding dangers of human both shielding people from acute threats and empowering security in order to curtail them. It recommended the people to take charge of their own lives with integrated promotion of human capacity building in African states, policies that focus on people’s survival, livelihood and assistance to states in the region to tackle HIV/AIDs and dignity, during downturns as well as prosperity (Ogata, other contagious diseases, promoting the active 2002). In addition to the persistent problems and participation of communities and representatives of civil vulnerabilities with which the world has long been society in the planning and implementation of familiar, there is a new wave of dramatic crises at the turn development programs among others and concluded that of the millennium related to terrorist attacks, ethnic though the challenges of human security in the continent violence, and epidemic of diverse forms including the are overwhelming, a proper implementation of these dreaded Ebola virus as well as sudden economic measures could ensure security for the vulnerable downturns. There is also the fear that existing institutions populations in the region. and policies are not able to cope with weakening Keywords— Challenges, Human Security, Sub-Saharan multilateralism, falling respect for human rights, eroding Africa, Civil Society, Conflicts. commitments to eradicate poverty and deprivation, outdated sectarian perspectives in education systems and I. INTRODUCTION the tendency to neglect global responsibilities in an In Africa, the number of conflicts is still increasingly interrelated world. overwhelming as are the consequences for civilian However, in Africa today, democratic principles population. In his address to the 37th summit of the and practices are deepening and gaining wider support. Organization of African Unity (OAU) now Africa Union There has also been a massive increase in the role of civil (AU) in Lusaka, Zambia in July 2001, the then Secretary- society and community based organizations (CBOs) while General of the United Nations, late Kofi Annan, warned the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a that that “we are confronted with persistent conflicts and major initiative aimed at removing deprivations on which crises of governance and security that threaten to derail efforts to improve human security can be built. But aside our hopes for an African Union of peace and prosperity from this, the main challenge is to link prevention to the (Annan, 2001). It is equally clear that the number of promotion of human security, on the basis of the common www.ijels.com Page | 1190 International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences (IJELS) Vol-3, Issue-6, Nov - Dec, 2018 https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijels.3.6.35 ISSN: 2456-7620 priorities already identified and on the widely shared Organization for Economic Cooperation and concern for meeting the needs of the most vulnerable Development (OECD) and Development Assistance populations. Committee (DAC) unfolds, there are antecedents of the Thus, this paper attempts to answer four (4) basic concept of human security to be found in African questions: How can we ensure that major dimensions of philosophies and discourse, for example the thoughts of human security will be taken into account in regional, Nkrumah and Senghor in West Africa, which argue for sub-regional and international policies as the continent the primacy of basic human needs (Hutchful and Fayemi, moves from the resolution of conflicts to the building of 2004). By and large, there is consensus across Africa that democratic and stable societies that respect all of human security should be people centered which translates first rights? To what extent has Africa adequately identified all and foremost to people’s safety. This much was the priorities that require long-term action, or is the acknowledged by the OAU 1991 Kampala document, continent limiting itself to dealing only with the most “Towards a Conference on Security, Stability, urgent matters? Which capacities should be built in order Development and Cooperation in Africa. to move Africa forward in the promotion of human The document rightly observed that security security particularly through education and training? embraces all aspects of the society including economic, What strategies could aid the mobilization of the most political and social dimensions of individual, family, vulnerable populations, which must emerge as community, local and national life. The security of a stakeholders in the democratic process through nation must be constructed in terms of the security of the participation and dialogue? It is imperative that African individual citizen to live in peace with access to basic leaders must understand that the growing uneasiness and necessities of life while fully participating in the affairs of frustration of the African populace is a result of his or her society in freedom and enjoying all leadership failure which often times results in armed fundamental human rights (OAU, 1991). Additionally, in violence. 2001, the DAC Conflict, Peace and Development Cooperation Network CPDC) defined security as II. REVIEW OF SOME RELATED increasingly being viewed as an all-encompassing LITERATURE condition in which people and communities live in The “Human Security” approach contends that freedom, peace and safety, participate fully in the threats and challenges to security transcend national governance of their countries, enjoy the protection of defence, law and order to encompass all political, fundamental rights, have access to resources and basic economic and social issues that guarantee a life free from necessities of life, and inhabit an environment which is risk and fear. The focus of security has therefore shifted not detrimental to their health and wellbeing. In this case, from the state to the security of persons which however is both the security of people and the security of the state are not mutually exclusive. Security can be thought of as a mutually reinforcing (OECD, 2001). “public good”, responding to the strategic need to support Governance issues are central to human security sustainable human development at the same time as in so far as a wide range of state and non-state institutions promoting national, regional and global peace and play a role, or have a role to play, in protecting people at security. Under colonial rule, African states and their different levels. Security can be seriously undermined security establishments were organized and administered where these security institutions are poorly managed and according to European models. These formal models coordinated, or are not responsive to the needs of the largely remained in place following independence, though population. Equally, the Commission on Human security in many cases more informal administrative and security (CHS) final report “Human Security Now” views human structures developed parallel to the official ones. In the security as protecting vital freedoms. It means protecting 1960s, the OAU confined state sovereignty within borders people from critical and pervasive threats and situations, as defined under colonial rule thus, making most attempts building on their strengths and aspirations, creating to develop new and innovative security paradigms systems that give people the building blocks of survival, specifically relevant to African contexts a relatively dignity and livelihood. Human security connects different recent event (Henk, 2008). types