INSECURITY AND THREATS TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

SHEDRACK, C. IGBOKE

Department of Political Science

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka

Tel: +2347039749202

Email: Sc.igboke@unizik.edn.ng

And

EZE, OSMOND IKECHUKWU

Department of Political Science

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University

Igbariam Campus

Tel: + 2348036938184

Email: ezeosmond76@gmail.com

Abstract

The problem of developmental crisis and sustainable development in Africa which are evident in lack of security activities and leadership failure. The basic thrusts of this paper is to identify the emerging trends of security threats in Africa with a view to diagnosing their causes and assessing their effects on sustainable development and the corporate existence of Africa. To achieve this goal, the paper relies on secondary sources of data. Meanwhile, the study adopted the system failure theory as theoretical framework of analysis. Through a systematic analysis of the available data, the study found that the activities of insurgency, fulani herdsmen, bandit, porous borders, poor governance, corruption, etc. threaten the sustainable development in Africa. In this regard, the study recommends among other things, the constitutional responsibility of the African (Nigerian) police force and other security agencies should be overhauled to contain its presence in remote and rural areas especially those where eruption of violence attacks are common. The paper also points out the difficulties of managing these insurgent, fulani herdsmen and bandit activities created by the porous nature of African (Nigerian) borders and unpreparedness of African (Nigerian) administrative and security mechanism of the country to tackle it. Moreso, we equally posit that the panacea to the disturbing trend of security threats in Africa is employment generation and effective implementation of the sundry poverty alleviation programmmes in Africa. However, unless the above mentioned problem is addressed through good governance and equal distribution of national cake or resources, Africa will continue to experience the problems of sustainable development.

Keywords: Insecurity, conflict, insurgency, poverty, corruption and sustainable development.