Possible Solution to Increasing Insecurity Across Africa

[Dunamisx]

Possible Solution to Increasing Insecurity Across Africa



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The title to this thread already explain everything in details about what I'm about to discuss, we all know that insurgency is taken over with more prevalence development across the rural areas in sub-Sahara Africa and the other regions in Africa, you can see that what motivated me from writing this thread was gotten from this development news as Mali Bans use of motorcycles outside Cities and I think that if this is been taken into consideration by other countries affected by insecurity, it could possibly mitigate their ability to navigate the remote areas and operate successfully.

Mali has made their decision in this regard and I think one of the most challenging country as well in Africa is also Nigeria and if they could also implement something like this, it may reduce the activities of this insurgent in the rural areas, especially those at the northern states where it is more predominantly experienced, until the military regime in Burkina Faso came in power before there could be a little achievement concerning cm security challenges they face, but Nigerians military are trying their best, only that the politicians are more corrupt and sabotaged every of their plan.

Here are a few pieces of security advice I want to give, who knows this may get to some of the top leaders around the world and could affect them as a solution.

1. Ban the use of motorbikes in rural areas.
2. Implement a night curfew to prevent civilians from being attacked at night.
3. Map out every Forest and mast that is not populated by people and create security defenses on them.
4. Let the military have full power to execute any obstacle without waiting for the last order or commands at war.
5. Form security surveillance as well as use of sophisticated weapons and devices like drones etc.
6. Fortify the military with enough equipment necessary to combat any Security challenge.
7. Read out the informant among the military and make thorough exercise to combat insurgents.
8. Target the sponsors of insurgency across the countries and go after them first before hunting for the hoodlums used.

[Fiatless]

The political will to stop these insurgencies is more important. The solutions you have listed are okay but when top government officials benefit from these conflicts, it will be hard to end. The reason there are wars in the world is that some set of people are benefiting from arms sales, defense budget, etc.

In Nigeria, the security system is centralized. When the state government doesn't have any power to direct the police and other law enforcement agencies, they might not be able to perform their function of protecting life and property. Decentralizing the security apparatus and establishing state police would be another suggestion.

[programmer3666]

No matter how many security recommendations or expert advice are given to many african leaders, I believe most of them already know what needs to be done. The bigger problem is that many simply do not care enough about the safety and welfare of ordinary citizens. You will usually see governments reacting only after a major attack has happened, instead of taking preventive measures. As things stand now, many people across affected regions are living on high alert because they no longer feel fully protected. All this suggestions mentioned will hold no value!! without political will, proper funding and accountability, insecurity will continue. In my opinion, Africa's security problem is not always a lack of solutions it is just a lack of leaders who are genuinely committed to implementing them for the benefit of the people.

[Akbarkoe]

Usually groups like this have leaders who make them brave to do anything, this should be the task of intelligence in your country to thoroughly investigate the leaders and affiliates of such groups, sometimes also protected by the government or even from your own country's army as a protector, so there should be special forces to investigate this, seeing in the picture having weapons means there are suppliers and strong supporters behind it.

Banning the use of motorcycles I think will be useless if they will still violate and it will be even more difficult for citizens to do activities that require their access distance will be very limited while these groups will not care.

[Frankolala]

You will be shocked that some political Godfathers are the ones supporting and encouraging these bandits because if they don't have strong backup, they should have been wiped out long ago but their leaders protect them and use them to cause insurgency in the state/country for their own selfish purpose. It's alarming that some persons derive joy in killing and causing violence to make people uncomfortable.

[Dunamisx]

I knew it as well that all this wouldn't have happened if it does not have any political hand in it, it is time that government have to begin to search thoroughly within borders and within the cities as well to investigate more about those in political positions to know their communications and the kind of deals did make, government have right to monitor these people's conversations, demand for their details and track them through their service providers, they are making calls and no one is tracking them, it is uncalled for that they are performing their evil enterprise without anyone bringing them down.

[Findingnemo]

If this is happening in a country, then the government is not competent enough to take complete control, let's keep the crimes aside that happens everywhere but here you are talking about taking control over certain areas which must be avoided but the government got the resources to stop them and if they do then they would have done already and if they don't then I doubt it will change at all.

[Ndabagi01]

All these you’ve mentioned are good points and I am very sure that many people have given the leaders these ideas and they never get to go by them either due to their negligence or even them being part of the caused of the insecurity in the country. One thing I am very sure of and still go by is the words of one of our past military leader, he says and I quote that “any insurgency that lasts more than 24hours, a government official has an hand in it”. This is as exactly what we’ve seen in most part of West African countries and till day, we’re still facing the same challenges with no possible solutions to the problems.

[GiftedMAN]

In Nigeria, the security system is centralized. When the state government doesn't have any power to direct the police and other law enforcement agencies, they might not be able to perform their function of protecting life and property. Decentralizing the security apparatus and establishing state police would be another suggestion.

It is shameful to know that in 2026 the state doesn't have the power to act on it's own even in serious security matters, I see no reason why the constitution shouldn't be amended and the security system be decentralized so that the state governors will not have to wait for the federal government before making some decisions as regards to the state security. State policing should be established now the level of insecurity has increased in the country if nothing is done then we will see more of kidnapping and killing.

[Adiljutt156]

I don't think that banning motorcycle in the ruler parts is a good solution as many people find it necessity rather than luxury day use it as a mean of transportation.By putting ban will cause problems for civilians as compared to insurgent because criminal always find the alternative methods of transportation while those who follow laws have to bear the economic consequences,  these policies only restrict their access to the market ,education, healthcare and these people who live in rural areas are already facing difficulties. Giving military the full power without oversight can create more problems , effective security solutions always require accountability so that abuses can be prevented and public trust can be maintained. Just for this purpose of security the government should not sacrifice the freedom of ordinary citizens they should find other ways to cope with this problem. 

[Y3shot]

Mali has made their decision in this regard and I think one of the most challenging country as well in Africa is also Nigeria and if they could also implement something like this, it may reduce the activities of this insurgent in the rural areas, especially those at the northern states where it is more predominantly experienced, until the military regime in Burkina Faso came in power before there could be a little achievement concerning cm security challenges they face, but Nigerians military are trying their best, only that the politicians are more corrupt and sabotaged every of their plan.

In the case of Nigeria, putting a ban on the use of motorcycles does not even solve insecurity in the region. What Nigeria needs is for the government to just make up their mind to fight insecurity. A ban on motorcycles won't solve insecurity because even if motorcycles are being banned, these terrorist groups are not poorly or lacking money. With the ammunition they have, you would see that they can afford any vehicles they want. These terrorist groups have access to military vehicles that cost millions of naira. If the government is not ready to fight insecurity, there won't be any need for the government to ban motorcycles because even if they do, I don't think it will be of any importance. I think the ideal thing for the government to do right now is to declare a state of emergency in these affected areas.

[letteredhub]

Here are a few pieces of security advice I want to give, who knows this may get to some of the top leaders around the world and could affect them as a solution.

1. Ban the use of motorbikes in rural areas.
2. Implement a night curfew to prevent civilians from being attacked at night.
3. Map out every Forest and mast that is not populated by people and create security defenses on them.
4. Let the military have full power to execute any obstacle without waiting for the last order or commands at war.
5. Form security surveillance as well as use of sophisticated weapons and devices like drones etc.
6. Fortify the military with enough equipment necessary to combat any Security challenge.
7. Read out the informant among the military and make thorough exercise to combat insurgents.
8. Target the sponsors of insurgency across the countries and go after them first before hunting for the hoodlums used.

OP thank you so much for this thought at a time like this when the sahel and most West African countries are bedeviled with constant violence from bandits and insurgents causing the once peaceful and beautiful Africa countries we grow up from to now become something we just don't know what to describe right now.

Well, among all your security suggestions/advice I really want to pick interest to speak on the first and last suggestion which I think are more critical than the rest.
I weigh it that the banning of motorcycle movements would rather create a other problem, an unemployment problem, because a lot of people in the rural communities relies on this means as source of income by carrying commuters to their destination and get paid to feed their family. What now happens when their source of income is stoped because bandit and terrorists are using bikes to come hunt the communities? So you see, it's like a solution that creates another problem.

Okay, to the last advice you gave, I think that's the only solution that can completely end all the violence in the different parts of Africa, and using Nigeria as case study we all know that some heavy loaded politicians are part of the creation of these violent insurgent groups that are destroying lives and properties today. They created these groups to use it to fight and create a bad outlook on the current government that was in power in between 2010 and 2014. A mastermind work which they succeeded with but in the process couldn't control the dogs they've created, trained and armed with sophisticated weapons and fundings. Now the dogs have gone untamed wild and barking and biting.

I remember the words of a one time Head of State in Nigeria, Sani Abaacha, quote "If an insurgency lasts for more than 24 hours, then the government has a hand in it." End of quote. But in this case today, it's not only people in the government that are having a hand in the insurgency in Nigeria and other parts of Africa but some vested interest foreign powers are from behind also involved in one way or the other... ^{A rare mineral discussion issue for another day.}

[Dunamisx]

It is now left to us to take the security to our safety and be conscious of our environment will lived in, therefore if you see something, you have to say something, we should report every suspicious activity or movement around us, stop being silent and watch things going wrong without reporting to the appropriate authority or taking steps to expose any hidden agenda we see from other people.

No one will be there for us when any form of attack is happening, this is why we must also learn to guide ourselves against such occurrence now or later in the future, this means that we should practice security alertness, equip ourselves even at our various destinations, avoid late-night movement, and report any suspicious gatherings or activities that are done unlawfully.

[Marykeller]

1. Ban the use of motorbikes in rural areas.
2. Implement a night curfew to prevent civilians from being attacked at night.
3. Map out every Forest and mast that is not populated by people and create security defenses on them.
4. Let the military have full power to execute any obstacle without waiting for the last order or commands at war.
5. Form security surveillance as well as use of sophisticated weapons and devices like drones etc.
6. Fortify the military with enough equipment necessary to combat any Security challenge.
7. Read out the informant among the military and make thorough exercise to combat insurgents.
8. Target the sponsors of insurgency across the countries and go after them first before hunting for the hoodlums used.

I agree with most of the security advice you have, but I don't completely agree with banning bikes in rural areas because that seems like the only means those living in rural areas transport themselves from one place to another since not all of them can afford to buy cars and they don't have access to good roads in their communities.

Denying them the use of bikes, how will the thought of transporting themselves? Will they be trekking or staying indoors, not to move an inch to get what they will eat?

No African government will think of this approach of banning bikes in rural areas. They can have that done in urban areas because of the availability of cars and good roads. What the government will think of doing is allying with local vigilantes of communities, empowering them so that they can work in hand with the military to tackle insurgency