Africa Vital To Us Security Terrorism And Transnational Threats Causes And Enablers

This presentation on Africa was given by Ms. Theresa Whelan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs, to the National Defense University on November 16, 2005. The speech covers the Sub-Saharan Threat Environment, which entails constant security, political, and economic crises; government corruption; and lack of capacities for internal security, law enforcement, and border protection. This lack of governance capacity makes these African nations attractive to extremists, terrorists, and criminals. Ms. Whelan describes ungoverned territories and exploitable areas, which are rugged, remote, maritime, or littoral areas not effectively governed by a sovereign state. In many cases, the sovereign state is unable or unwilling to exercise authority in these areas. These African partners may need help. Building partners' counterterrorism capacity refers to improving police, military, administration of justice, financial regulations, intelligence, and border security. Building partners' governance capacity requires an understanding of how various components of governance interact to be mutually reinforcing. The strategic elements in this process are as follows: Civil Control and Defense Reform, Military Professionalism, and Capacity Building.