Summary Report of the Seminar on Role of the Private Security Sector in African Conflicts

This report summarizes a seminar held on 22 June 2009 by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria regarding the role of the private security sector in African conflicts. The event featured a presentation by Doug Brooks, President of the Association of the Stability Operations Industry (IPOA), and a response from Lawrence Juma of the University of Fort Hare, focusing on the utility, ethics, and regulation of private security contractors in peacekeeping and stabilization efforts.

• States are increasingly utilizing private security operators because they are cost-effective and possess capacities that can exceed those of many states. Approximately 90 percent of these contractors are logistics and support companies, while the remaining 10 percent provide security guards and assistance with security sector reform and development.
• Private security companies are positioned as a viable alternative for peacekeeping operations, particularly as Western states' involvement has decreased since 2002 and developing states often lack the necessary resources to be successful. These companies can reduce military footprints and logistical burdens while offering specialization and durability.
• The Association of the Stability Operations Industry (IPOA) requires its members to follow a code of conduct and provides a complaints procedure for misconduct, including notices placed in NGO offices in active states. However, some companies avoid voluntary standards to remain competitive, and some clients ignore past performance or norms.
• Critics and respondents at the seminar raised concerns regarding the distinction between private security companies and mercenaries, the appropriateness of these companies in resolving internal conflicts in fragile states, and the adequacy of existing regulatory instruments. The Montreux Document is noted as a significant international document for recognizing that private security companies differ from mercenaries.

APA

Marits, M., & Gumedze, S. (2009). Summary Report of the Seminar on Role of the Private Security Sector in African Conflicts. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/22JUN09PMSSEMREP_.PDF

Chicago

Marits, Marelie, and Sabelo Gumedze. Summary Report of the Seminar on Role of the Private Security Sector in African Conflicts. Institute for Security Studies, 2009. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/22JUN09PMSSEMREP_.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Marits |first1=Marelie |last2=Gumedze |first2=Sabelo |title=Summary Report of the Seminar on Role of the Private Security Sector in African Conflicts |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=22 June 2009 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/22JUN09PMSSEMREP_.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{marits2009summary, author = {Marits, Marelie and Gumedze, Sabelo}, title = {{Summary Report of the Seminar on Role of the Private Security Sector in African Conflicts}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2009}, month = jun, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/22JUN09PMSSEMREP_.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }