Browsing by Author "De Villiers, Chace"

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    Outsourcing security in Africa: Legitimising private military companies to combat terrorism in Nigeria in 2015
    (University of the Western Cape, 2024) De Villiers, Chace; Pretorius, Joelien
    This research delves into the intricate dynamics of providing security in weak states across Africa, with a specific emphasis on the erosion of the state's monopoly on organised violence. The resultant vacuum in state authority creates opportunities for rebel groups, militias, and warlords to challenge security, fostering an environment conducive to terrorism. This study asks to which extent can Private Military Companies (PMCs) fill this vacuum when it comes to counterterrorism. Focusing specifically on Nigeria, it investigates the persistent security challenges and counterterrorism efforts amid political instability, violence, and economic complexities in African states. Grounded theoretically in postcolonial Security Studies and conceptually in theories around statehood, the deployment of the private military company, STTEP, in Nigeria in 2015 is assessed to determine best practices to legitimately employ PMCs to bolster African states’ monopoly on organised violence.