Demilitarising sub-Saharan Africa

This report chapter by Kees Kingma examines the processes and impacts of demobilising military personnel in Africa, focusing on how the transition from military to civilian life affects peace, security, and human development.

• Demobilisation does not automatically result in immediate financial gains for development. Short-term savings are often offset by the high costs of resettlement and reintegration, and in cases of military modernisation, overall expenditure may not decrease.
• The decision to demobilise in Africa is typically driven by six factors: peace accords, the defeat of a party, improved security, funding shortages, desired economic impact, or changing military technology. Peace agreements were the most common driver in countries like Angola, Liberia, Mozambique, Namibia, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe.
• The success of demobilisation is heavily dependent on the political and institutional environment. Without a state capable of protecting participants or a genuine political will among leadership—as seen in the failed efforts in Angola—demobilisation cannot substitute for a political solution.
• Economic reintegration is often hindered by the low educational and skill levels of ex-combatants. In Ethiopia, while ex-soldiers were more educated than the general population, they lacked the specific skills needed for successful self-employment.
• Demobilisation can inadvertently lead to the militarisation of wider society. Some ex-soldiers from the South African Defence Force (SADF) and other armies have joined mercenary companies or private security firms due to a lack of alternative economic opportunities.
• Female ex-fighters face distinct social challenges during reintegration, often facing pressure to return to traditional roles. In Eritrea, where women made up about one-third of the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF), a 1997 survey found that 27 percent of female ex-fighters were divorced or separated.
• Inadequate disarmament during demobilisation can increase regional instability by increasing the volume of uncontrolled weapons. This was specifically noted in Mozambique, where poor disarmament increased the number of weapons circulating in southern Africa.

APA

Kingma, K. (n.d.). Demilitarising sub-Saharan Africa. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ACHIEVINGKINGMA.PDF

Chicago

Kingma, Kees. Demilitarising sub-Saharan Africa. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ACHIEVINGKINGMA.PDF.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{kingmanddemilitarising, author = {Kingma, Kees}, title = {{Demilitarising sub-Saharan Africa}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ACHIEVINGKINGMA.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }