Sub-Saharan Africa

SOLLIMS Sampler – Women, Peace and Security Mister David A Mosinski PKSOI SOLLIMS Sampler by the US Army War College, Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute "Addressing gender issues while planning and conducting peace and stability operations requires the utmost attention to detail. Time spent on this endeavor, however, is absolutely essential for mission success."

Preventing and Managing Conflict in an Unstable World Paul Sangrey, Karen Finkenbinder, PKSOI Interns: Jeremy Wallace, Sarah Cassel, Nasim Fekrat, Sarah Masciola, James Pagano, Danielle Humphrey, Charles Williams Glaser, Paul Sangrey, Rachel Baras, Michael Fishman, Benjamin Brandt, Zachary Ricchuiti, Michael Bruno, Jason Kring PKSOI Paper by the US Army War College, Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute, US Army War College Press "The genesis for this anthology occurred almost two years ago. As the internship program grew, we realized that many of their projects were too good to be used only by us. We thought their ideas deserved a forum where others might also benefit from their observations. This anthology is not exhaustive. In fact, there were many more papers we would have liked to include but, alas, we had to make the cut somewhere. These papers were written between 2010 and 2012."

SOLLIMS Sampler - Overcoming "Challenges & Spoilers" with "Unity & Resolve" Mister David A Mosinski PKSOI SOLLIMS Sampler by the US Army War College, Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute "Overcoming “challenges and spoilers” within conflict-affected nations is a demanding endeavor. Stability operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Philippines, and multiple nations of Africa have shown that bringing lasting peace/stability to troubled nations – plagued by warlords, extremists, and paramilitaries – is never easy. These have proven to be highly complex operations requiring an extensive understanding of the environment, an extensive understanding of the “challenges and spoilers” within the environment, and an extensive understanding of their connections to 3rd party nations/states/actors."

SOLLIMS Sampler - Improving Host Nation Security through Police Forces Mister David A Mosinski PKSOI SOLLIMS Sampler by the US Army War College, Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute "A safe and secure environment requires, as a minimum, the physical security of civilians, public figures/forums, critical infrastructure, government facilities, and cultural/historical sites. Protecting people/events/facilities, establishing law and order, and maintaining law and order are vital functions for keeping the peace/ stabilization process moving forward and for allowing expansion of service deliveries and market activities. Police forces are essential players for handling these functions."

Building Better Armies: An Insider’s Account of Liberia Dr Sean McFate Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College Press "We have long known that helping allies build better armies and police forces is a key to regional stability and the exit strategy for costly missions like Afghanistan in an “as they stand up, we stand down” approach. Yet the U.S. track record on this is unacceptably weak. The 2012 coup in Mali was staged by U.S. trained Malian soldiers. In Afghanistan, after years of training, the Pentagon assessed that only one of the Afghan National Army’s 23 brigades is able to operate independently. This does not augur well for U.S. troop withdrawal in 2014 or for the future of Afghanistan."

State Collapse, Insurgency, and Counterinsurgency: Lessons from Somalia Dr J Peter Pham Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College Press "...In this monograph, however, Dr. J. Peter Pham adopts a different approach. Beginning with a keen appreciation for the intricacies of Somali culture and history, he argues that the key is to understand political legitimacy among the Somali and then examines how both al-Shabaab and the different local polities that have emerged in Somalia have, to varying degrees, acquired it—as well as how successive Somali regimes have not. He also explores how weakness of, and divisions among, the insurgents can be better exploited by engaging and empowering alternative centers of legitimacy. What emerges from his analysis is a rather nuanced picture of the counterinsurgency strategy that, following several frustrating years, finally achieved its objectives, as well as several provocative suggestions."

What Is Next for Mali? The Roots of Conflict and Challenges to Stability Dr Dona J Stewart Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College Press "In March 2012, the government of Mali, one of the most touted symbols of Africa’s democratic potential fell in a military-executed coup. At the same time, a 4-decade-old rebellion among Tuaregs seeking autonomy or independence reached new heights, fueled by weapons from Muammar Gadaffi’s fallen government and perhaps the belief that the Arab Spring could extend to northern Mali. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and their allies were quick to capitalize on the increasing chaos in a territory characterized by lack of government control and poverty and seized the major cities in the north. The imposition of a severe form of Islamic law and a growing food crisis sent the population fleeing south across Mali’s international borders. The French-led military intervention, Operation SERVAL, ousted the militants from the main cities in the north, but did not address the crisis’ underlying issues including the grievances that feed the Tuareg nationalist movement, the establishment of a civilian-led government in Mali, and the near- and long-term threats to food security. The eruption of this crisis also demands a critical look at the Sahel’s regional security framework, and the U.S. role in it. "

SOLLIMS Sampler - Key Enablers for Peacekeeping & Stability Operations Mister David A Mosinski PKSOI SOLLIMS Sampler by the US Army War College, Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute "In the course of recent / ongoing operations in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya, Liberia, Libya, and Sierra Leone, a number of key “enablers” have significantly contributed to mission accomplishment. In most cases, these “enablers” were developed / instituted to address a specific need or shortfall, and they rather quickly made a positive operational impact for the forces involved. Granted, no two operations are ever alike, however, the key “enablers” covered in this report are nonetheless offered as “food for thought” for planners and practitioners of future peacekeeping and stability operations."

Peace & Stability Journal, Volume 3, Issue 4 Mister Robert C Browne Peace and Stability Journal by the US Army War College, Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute "The US Army’s War College’s Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute (PKSOI) personnel including Colonels Ed Lowe, Jim McFadden, and Bo Balcavage, along with retired Colonel Tony Lieto, traveled to West Africa in June 2013 to support one of US Army Africa’s (USARAF) premier training and security cooperation events, exercise Western Accord 2013 (WA13)..."