Requirements for Security Sector Reform Success: Case Studies of U.S. Efforts in Kenya and Mali for SSR, Kenya a Success Story but Mali Failed as a Politically and Economically Unstable State

This report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. This monograph determined that political and economic stability are required for Security Sector Reform (SSR) success over the long term. This monograph studied the efforts of the United States in Kenya and Mali to determine if political and economic stability are necessary requirements for SSR success over the long term. This study suggests that states with stable political and economic institutions will benefit from SSR over a longer duration. Kenya was a success case; the United States conducted SSR activities in a relatively stable state resulting in a state that positively affects local and regional security issues. Mali was a failed case; the United States executed SSR activities in a politically and economically unstable state. This instability resulted in a military coup in 2012 with Mali unable to affect security within its own territory or the region, effectively negating SSR efforts by the United States. This study did not determine a threshold for stability in any particular institution but recommends as a start point, a comparison of state institutions in the region to determine stability relative to the regional environment of the targeted state. This study recommends that operational and strategic planners measure political and economic stability prior to executing SSR activities to suggest the probability of SSR success. If SSR activities are required regardless, planners must take measures to ensure some level of stability in the state or risk failure in SSR.

The United States has intervened in Africa at the state and regional level for decades to build the security capacity and capability of our partners, stabilize affected regions and secure United States national interests. More often than not, the United States struggles to build lasting security in regions affected by conflict, poor governance, and weak economic systems. A recent example is Mali, where a significant effort to conduct Security Sector Reform (SSR) was undertaken for over a decade to improve security and stability in Mali and the surrounding area. Despite these efforts, the security situation deteriorated in 2012 resulting in a coup and intervention by French forces in 2013. Although the casual observer might believe that Mali failed as a directed result of a weak security apparatus, poor governance contributed to the coup and subsequent intervention by the French government.

This study will use the qualitative case study analysis methodology to identify the different outcomes in the case studies. This study will select two states in Sub-Saharan Africa and apply the variables identified in the literature review to determine their effect on SSR success. These case studies will review the political and economic environments of the selected state, United States efforts to improve political and economic stability, and United States SSR efforts in the selected state. The analysis will determine if political and economic stability are present in the selected state and demonstrate a correlation between political and economic stability and SSR success. The analysis section will contrast outcomes in each case study to determine if political and economic stability are required for SSR success. The last section of this monograph will conclude the results and provide recommendations for strategic and operational planners.