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

The report details a seminar featuring Doug Brooks, President of the Association of the Stability Operations Industry (IPOA), who argued that private security contractors provide cost-effective, specialized capabilities that reduce military footprints and logistical burdens in peacekeeping. The seminar also included a response from Lawrence Juma, who questioned the distinction between these companies and mercenaries, the appropriateness of their role in internal conflicts in fragile states, and the adequacy of existing regulatory frameworks like the Montreux Document.

• Private security contractors are increasingly used by states because they offer cost-effective capabilities that can surpass state resources, specifically by reducing logistical burdens and the military footprint.
• The private security market is divided, with approximately 90 percent of contractors providing logistics and support, while the remaining 10 percent provide security guards and assistance with security sector reform and development.
• Private security companies are distinguished from mercenaries as they do not meet the definition set out in article 47 of the Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions.
• While the Association of the Stability Operations Industry (IPOA) requires members to follow a code of conduct and provides complaint procedures, some companies avoid voluntary standards to remain competitive, and some clients ignore past performance or norms.
• Critical perspectives raised during the seminar questioned whether private security companies are the correct organs to resolve conflict, particularly in fragile states where conflicts are internal, and whether the Montreux Document is a sufficient regulatory instrument.

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} }