WAR, CONFLICT AND ORGANISED CRIME CONFERENCE REPORT

This report summarizes a workshop hosted by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) from 22-23 March 2005, which examined the links between conflict, civil wars, and organised crime in Africa. The conference brought together 30 participants from government, security, judicial services, and civil society from six African nations to discuss the origins of organised crime, the role of state dysfunction, and the impact of economic factors and natural resources on conflict.

• Conference participants suggested that civil wars and organised crime often share a common origin in poor social, economic, and political governance, rather than natural resources being the sole driver of conflict.
• There is a significant lack of dedicated and updated legislation to combat organised crime in the studied countries, with many still relying on outdated colonial laws that hinder the prosecution of offenders.
• Organised crime networks in Africa are often perceived to be embedded within the national elite or market-dominant minorities, while poverty drives the recruitment of 'foot soldiers'.
• Economic drivers of organised crime include high customs taxes, inflation, and the use of multiple currencies. Additionally, the informal economy can serve as a cover for criminal activity, and over-regulation may push legitimate businesses underground due to official corruption.
• The report highlights a need for improved international and national cooperation, noting that current engagement between national agencies and Interpol is viewed as ineffective by many law enforcement participants.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2005). WAR, CONFLICT AND ORGANISED CRIME CONFERENCE REPORT. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/website-conference-report.pdf

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. WAR, CONFLICT AND ORGANISED CRIME CONFERENCE REPORT. 2005. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/website-conference-report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=WAR, CONFLICT AND ORGANISED CRIME CONFERENCE REPORT |date=March 2005 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/website-conference-report.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2005war, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{WAR, CONFLICT AND ORGANISED CRIME CONFERENCE REPORT}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2005}, month = mar, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/website-conference-report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }