The Involvement of the Private Security Sector in Peacekeeping Missions

The report details a two-day conference in Nairobi focused on the integration of the private security sector into African peacekeeping. It examines the shift from 'combat' roles to 'non-core' military functions, the tension between state monopolies on force and the efficiency of private contractors, and the urgent need for binding international regulatory frameworks to replace non-binding guidelines like the Montreux Document.

• There is a perceived shift in the private security industry from a 'market for conflict' to a 'market for peace,' where PMSCs are increasingly used for non-core military functions such as logistics, maintenance, and security management rather than direct combat.
• The use of PMSCs in Africa is complicated by a historical association with mercenaries, which often leads to 'knee-jerk reactions' from African governments and hinders an objective analysis of the sector's potential to enhance peace and security.
• The proliferation of PMSCs may weaken national armed forces by creating a 'vacuum' of skills, as high-calibre military professionals migrate to the private sector for better employment opportunities, leaving national forces with lower-quality troops.
• Current international regulatory efforts are largely insufficient because key documents, such as the Montreux Document, are non-binding and lack an impartial, independent accountability mechanism.
• The International Peace Operations Association (IPOA) employs a self-regulatory compliance mechanism involving a review panel and standards committee to maintain a code of conduct among member companies, though it cannot enforce state law.
• There is a significant definitional and legal gap in African security legislation; for instance, the 1977 OAU Convention for the Elimination of Mercenarism in Africa fails to address the specific nature of modern PMSCs.
• PMSCs can potentially improve human security by filling security gaps more efficiently than states, particularly in responding to threats like terrorism, provided they are screened to remove mercenary elements.
• The 'Steering and Rowing Approach' (SRAP) is proposed as a model for the division of labour, where governments and international bodies maintain the leadership ('steering') role while PMSCs provide specialised execution ('rowing').

APA

Gichanga, M., Roberts, M., & Gumedze, S. (2010). The Involvement of the Private Security Sector in Peacekeeping Missions. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Nov2010InvolvPvtSecSect.pdf

Chicago

Gichanga, Margaret, Melanie Roberts, and Sabelo Gumedze. The Involvement of the Private Security Sector in Peacekeeping Missions. Institute for Security Studies, 2010. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Nov2010InvolvPvtSecSect.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gichanga |first1=Margaret |last2=Roberts |first2=Melanie |last3=Gumedze |first3=Sabelo |title=The Involvement of the Private Security Sector in Peacekeeping Missions |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=July 2010 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Nov2010InvolvPvtSecSect.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gichanga2010involvement, author = {Gichanga, Margaret and Roberts, Melanie and Gumedze, Sabelo}, title = {{The Involvement of the Private Security Sector in Peacekeeping Missions}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2010}, month = jul, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Nov2010InvolvPvtSecSect.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }