Africa Center for Strategic Studies

File:ACSS LOGO edited.jpg

ACSS logo

The formation of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS) began in 1994, when U.S. European Command (EUCOM) petitioned the Chairman of the House International Relations Committee to create a Center on African Affairs that emulated the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies (GCMC). Following this, in March 1998, President Bill Clinton made the first major trip to sub-Saharan Africa by a U.S. president in over 20 years. While there, he discussed promoting a U.S.-Africa partnership for the twenty-first century based on mutual respect and mutual interest, and mentioned the establishment of a center for Africa. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Susan Rice later explained that this center would “provide a forum for senior military and civilian officials to explore together complex defense policy issues and provide training to strengthen civil-military relations in burgeoning democracies.”

The Africa Center for Strategic Studies was formally established in March 1999. In 2004, the Center relocated to the campus of the Department of Defense’s National Defense University at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., where it is one of five regional centers. In 2007, ACSS began a working partnership with the recently established U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM).

ACSS is dedicated to promoting good governance and democratic values in the defense and security sectors around the globe, and to establishing long-term active communications with African leaders across the continent. The Africa Center aims to do this through a comprehensive program of seminars, symposia, conferences, research and other academic programs; and through a range of outreach activities in Africa and in the U.S.

Mission statement

The Africa Center for Strategic Studies aims to support United States foreign and security policies by strengthening the strategic capacity of African states to identify and resolve security challenges in ways that promote civil-military cooperation, respect for democratic values, and safeguard human rights.

In order to advance security cooperation in Africa, ACSS's stated goals are:

• Conduct relevant, timely, and efficient programs strategically focused on national security policy development, counter-terrorism, civil military relations, defense economics and resource management, and conflict prevention;
• Security Sector Reform: Build African military capacity and professionalization, respect for the rule of law, and civil-military relations.
• Focus program objectives on countering trans-national security challenges and initiatives that build partner capacities.
• Support efforts to increase African ability to carry out peacekeeping and stability operations, and to mutually support and respond to disasters.
• Build a network of African civil, military, and opinion leaders who can promote a common understanding among U.S. and African leaders on U.S.-African security-related policies, programs, and priorities.
• Continue to refine current transformative, inter-ministerial regional security programs and expand focus on whole-of-government approaches to current and projected security challenges in Africa.
• Foster shared, synergistic programs with European allies, partner countries, and select international, regional, and civil-society organizations to fulfill common goals.

Region of engagement

ACSS area of engagement

ACSS's region of engagement includes all African countries. However, engagement with Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia is shared with the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies. Since ACSS is based in Washington, D.C., the Center also engages local Africa specialists.

Regional offices

Due to Department of Defense budget cuts, ACSS Regional Offices were identified for closure in the summer of 2014. Their outreach mission was transferred to the main campus in Washington, D.C.

In September 2004, the Africa Center recommended establishing four Africa Center Regional Offices. The first regional office was opened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on October 26, 2006. In November 2008, a second Regional Office was opened in Dakar, Senegal.

The goal of the ACSS Regional Offices was to establish long-term and visible Africa Center presence on the continent. Specifically, the Regional Offices helped to strengthen relationships with African governments, international organizations, the African Union and sub-regional organizations, and other partner institutions across the continent. The Regional Offices build outreach programs and provide support for ACSS Community Members and organized Community Chapters. They planned and executed ACSS activities in support of ACSS headquarters and host governments. In addition, the Regional Offices fostered strong working ties with African defense, military, and civic leaders to advance common policy objectives.

East Africa Regional Office (EARO)

Based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, EARO promoted bilateral dialogue through continuous engagement with the African Union (AU), the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Ethiopian International Institute for Peace and Development, the European Union, African Military Attachés Association, EASBRIG, African Standby Forces, and the U.S. Mission to the AU. EARO also maintained and expanded ACSS alumni networks and community chapters. Of these, the International Alumni Chapter played a critical role in advancing the policy dialogue on China’s role in Africa, the referendum in Southern Sudan, and ongoing instability in Somalia and Eritrea. The East Africa office worked with the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa to support forums at Camp Lemonnier on issues of regional importance.

Regional Office for West Africa (ROWA)

Based in Dakar, Senegal, ROWA developed outreach strategies and proposals to address issues such as security sector governance and civil-military relations both at national and regional levels. Following a West Africa counter-narcotics workshop, ROWA provided regional expertise for ministerial-level dialogue on the subject and helped forge regional partnerships around the conclusions of the workshop. Other ROWA projects examined the opportunities and challenges facing the armed forces in developing policies, allocating resources, and creating structures to better integrate women in the Senegalese armed forces. ROWA also collaborated with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) by helping to develop content on the dynamics and extent of transnational crimes in West Africa; its implications for national, sub-regional and global security including terrorism financing; and its impact on ongoing democratization, anti-corruption, development and public health efforts within West Africa.

The ROWA closed in July 2014.

Senior leadership

Director

In June 2014, Ms. Kate Almquist Knopf became director of the Africa Center for Strategic Stuides. Knopf provides executive leadership of ACSS’s programs, outreach, and evidence-based research to build strategic level analysis and capacity on security issues within Africa and to elevate the policy dialogue on contemporary security challenges across the continent.

Ms. Knopf was most recently a senior adviser for the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), a conflict mediation organization founded by former Finnish President and Nobel laureate Martti Ahtisaari. She has also been a visiting policy fellow at the Center for Global Development (CGD), where she focused on the intersection of security and development, U.S. foreign assistance reform, and development interventions in fragile and conflict-affected states. Ms. Knopf has been a member of the adjunct faculty of the Africa Center since 2010. Ms. Knopf previously held several senior positions at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), including as assistant administrator for Africa (2007-2009), Sudan mission director (2006-2007), deputy assistant administrator for Africa (2004-2006), and special assistant and senior policy adviser to the administrator (2001-2004). She also represented the U.S. Government on the international Assessment and Evaluation Commission charged with overseeing the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the 22-year civil war between Sudan and South Sudan. Prior to federal service, she was chief of staff for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and for the Executive Office for Administration and Finance of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She began her career at World Vision, an international non-governmental organization. Ms. Knopf holds a Master of Arts degree in international relations with concentrations in African studies and conflict management from Johns Hopkins University’s Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. She is the author of several policy papers and articles on Sudan and South Sudan, including Fragility and State-Society Relations in South Sudan, Africa Center for Strategic Studies, Research Paper No. 4, September 2013; Getting to Normal with the Two Sudans, Center for Global Development, February 28, 2013; and Renewed Conflict in South Sudan, Council on Foreign Relations, March, 2010.

Academic Dean

Dr. Raymond Gilpin is the current Academic Dean at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. In this capacity he directs the design, development and implementation of the Center’s programs, and provides leadership on all academic matters.

Prior to joining the Africa Center he served as director of the Center for Sustainable Economies at the United States Institute of Peace; academic chair for defense economics at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies; director for international programs at Intellibridge Corporation (now part of Eurasia Group); senior economist at the African Development Bank Group; research director at the Central Bank of Sierra Leone; and economist at the World Bank.

Chief of Alumni and Academic Affairs

Gerald “Jerry” Lefler assumed the duties as Chief of Alumni and Academic Affairs in July 2014 following his return to ACSS Headquarters after the closure of the Dakar Regional Office.

Having nearly 3 decades of defense related experience, including 16 years living and working internationally and 9 years working Africa security related issues, he leads the team of Community Affairs Specialists and manages the ACSS engagement program. His team also maintains relationships and contact with out thousands of alumni and our 33 Community Chapters. Jerry served as the Regional Operations Manager for the ACSS Regional Office for West and Central Africa from July 2012 through June 2014. Located in Dakar, Senegal, he and the ROWA team, supported the ACSS mission through a vital program of engagement with regional organizations, government officials, academic institutions, ACSS Community Chapters, and civil society leaders. They also supported ACSS Academic and Outreach programs in West and Central Africa. Prior to joining the ACSS team, Mr. Lefler was the Program Manager for the USEUCOM/USAFRICOM Regional Joint Intelligence Training Facility (RJITF) in Molesworth, U.K. His program provided the curriculum development, instruction, and training administration for US military and civilian professional courses as well as partner nation engagement programs throughout Africa and Europe. During his more than 4 years at the RJITF, programs that he helped develop, taught, and managed were hosted in 12 different African nations and touched regional and bilateral student audiences from 23 African nations. Before the RJITF, Mr. Lefler was an instructor with the African Contingency Operations Training Assistance (ACOTA) program where he trained staff members of national armed forces in preparation for deployment on peacekeeping operations on the continent. Jerry served 20 years as a U.S. Naval Officer, retiring in 2005. He served at sea on three destroyers and an aircraft carrier in posts as a Division Officer, Department Head and Executive Officer. His shore tours included assignments as Exchange Professor to the French Naval Academy, Staff Officer (Plans) on the NATO maritime staff in Northwood, U.K., and NATO Liaison Officer to the French Navy in the Mediterranean. He was one of the first designated U.S. Navy Foreign Area Officers (FAO). He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho in Applied Mathematics/Computer Science and a master’s degree in Management from Salve Regina University. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College, the Defense Language Institute (French), as well as various other professional and technical service schools.

Chief of Staff

Retired U.S. Army Colonel Saul Bracero serves as the Africa Center's Chief of Staff. He served in a wide variety of Military Police command and staff positions at company and brigade levels. His key staff assignments include service at the national, combatant command, Army Forces, and tactical levels. He served as Army Forces Assistant Operations Officer at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, providing camp security and operations for ten thousand Haitian migrants. Following this assignment he was hand selected to capture lessons learned for the U.S. Army—culminating in the development of the first doctrinal publication on force protection.

Mr. Bracero is a Sub-Saharan African Foreign Area Officer, having served in various positions with the Department of Defense. His first Africa assignment was to the U.S. embassy in Cameroon. There he assisted the Defense Attaché with Mil-to-Mil relations, visiting U.S. Delegation, and humanitarian projects. He later served at the European Command headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany as the security assistance program manager for West and Central Africa. Upon returning to the U.S., Colonel Bracero was assigned to the Joint Staff J2 as a Branch Chief overseeing the daily production of Africa intelligence products for the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, daily intelligence update. He was later assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency as the Division Chief overseeing all Africa strategic intelligence products for national and defense senior leaders. Colonel Bracero later served as the Central and East Africa Regional Director, International Security Affairs, Office of the Secretary of Defense working critical national policy issues on Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Lord Resistance Army, and Ethiopia, as well as terrorism issues in Somalia.

Senior French representative

Colonel Loïc Mizon was born on 20th September 1967 in Neuilly sur Seine. He joined the French military academy of Saint-Cyr in September 1989, and then chose to serve in the “Troupes de Marines” in the end of his schooling in 1992. After completing armored cavalry training School at Saumur, he chose to serve in the Regiment d’Infanterie – Chars de Marine (R.I.C.M./Marines Recce Regiment). Repeatedly deployed to Africa and the Balkans, he took part in Operation Turquoise in Rwanda and UNPROFOR in Sarajevo, where he took part in the operation to seize Vrbnja’s bridge in May 1995. In 1996, he was assigned to the 43rd Marines Battalion in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) where he served as second in command of the armored squadron. In 1998, he was reappointed to the R.I.C.M. as a Squadron Commander, deploying on Operation Epervier in Chad, in 2000. In 2001 he was appointed to the Archives and History department in Paris, where he was responsible for public relations. He passed the War College exam in 2004 and was promoted to Major and subsequently sent to the Ivory Coast as a LICORNE liaison officer, liaising with the UN representatives in Monrovia in Liberia. After passing the higher staff course in 2006, he was assigned to the African and the Indian Ocean (DAOI) department of the French Foreign Office in Paris, dealing in particular with Western and the Central Africa. During this period he was a lecturer for a Masters in International relations at Sciences Po Paris and in 2007-2008 was involved in the negotiations which paved the way for EUFOR operations in Chad and the Central African Republic. Lieutenant-colonel Mizon returned to the R.I.C.M. in 2008 as operations officer serving again in the Ivory Coast with the LICORNE battalion. In 2010, he was promoted to Colonel and joined the Planning and Command of Operations Centre (African operations) in the Armed Forces Headquarters. During this appointment, he helped manage the Ivory Coast crisis and the political events of December 2010 and May 2011. In July 2012, Colonel Mizon took command of the Regiment d’Infanterie – Chars de Marine, deploying almost immediately to the Ivory Coast. He commanded LICORNE Force operations there until October 2012. Between Sept 2013 & March 2014, he commanded the French contingent in South Lebanon. Colonel Loic MIZON is married with four children & his decorations include Knight of the Legion of Honour, Officer of the National Order of Merit and the Cross of Military Valour.

Senior Portuguese representative

Dr. Miguel Ferreira da Silva became the Senior Portuguese Representative at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies in March 2012. He graduated in Law and completed post graduate studies in Juridical-Political Sciences at the University of Lisbon, and in Political Science and International Relations at the Portuguese Catholic University. He also holds specializations in Security and Intelligence and in Terrorism. After developing a career in Legal Advising to the Public Sector, both at local and national levels, Dr. Ferreira taught Portuguese language and culture at the University of Nottingham, where he also completed his Ph.D. in cultural studies (legitimacy discourse of international criminal courts). He is a Senior Legal Advisor with the Portuguese Media Authority, as well as an advisor to the Portuguese Government, particularly in matters related to Africa.

Programs

The Africa Center’s first event was its Senior Leaders Seminar, held in Dakar, Senegal in May 1999. The Dakar seminar brought together 115 senior-level civilians, flag-level military officers, and representatives of civil society from Africa, Europe and the United States for two weeks of intense academic work. Fifty African nations were represented. Since then, more programs have been added to the Africa Center’s curriculum, including sub-regional seminars, counter-terrorism workshops, and programs addressing defense economics and civil-military relationships. In 2005, ACSS initiated its now annual Next Generation of African Military Leaders Course, a program focused on enhancing professionalism, ethics and leadership among mid-level African military officers. ACSS aims to provide a forum for discussing and analyzing current challenges facing Africa by holding programs that foster an understanding of the military’s role under democratic rule, promote discussion and common understanding of African security related issues, develop military professionalism, and further U.S. national security interests. Programs promote strategic thinking, professional networking, long-term outreach and better understanding of African security-related issues. All such programs are designed to allow participants to examine complex issues and seek their own solutions.

Methodology

• Academic Programs
• Outreach & Networking
• Strategic Research & Publications
• Thematic Workshops & Roundtables
• Inter-agency Support Programs
• In-region programs and events
• Alumni network and associations
• Dynamic Website & Social Networking
• Programs in English, French and Portuguese
• Strict policy of non-attribution
• Consultation with African Experts
• Policy-relevant focus

To maximize exposure and build ties with regional counterparts, ACSS conducts the majority of its programs on the African continent.

Core foundational programs

Senior Leaders Seminar (SLS)

The Africa Center’s flagship program, the SLS focuses on a comprehensive definition of security that reflects African realities and challenges by accounting for human and traditional security concerns, emerging threats, and good governance. During FY10’s iteration, participants interacted with senior U.S. and African leaders, including General William E. “Kip” Ward, Commander of the United States Africa Command; Ambassador Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs; and Brigadier General Frank Rusagara of the Rwanda Defence Forces. The most dynamic impact of SLS is that for many of the attendees, this was the first time they had the opportunity to meet and interact with their African counterparts face-to-face. As a result of this seminar, senior African decision-makers have forged alliances and established networks to continue engagement with their colleagues long after the program has ended.

Next Generation of Africa Security Sector Leaders Course

The Next Generation of African Security Sector Leaders course lays the foundation for the roles and responsibilities of professional military officers and future leaders of a democratic society. This program is an accredited course focused on enhancing professionalism, ethics, and leadership among mid-level African officers. As such, the course shared current concepts and ideas, examined Africa’s contemporary and emerging security threats, and analyzed civil- military relations in Africa to determine the role and place of the military in advancing national security in democratizing states. Over a four-week period, these officers participated in plenary sessions, group discussions, policy roundtables, topical lunches, and field trips that focused on military leadership, ethics and professionalism. As these officers assume positions of greater responsibility, they will be better equipped to foster healthy civil-military relations and prudently manage their countries’ security resources. Following the conclusion of this course, several former participants were promoted within their militaries, or were assigned to duties with increasing responsibilities. In addition, several participants completed the course and received master's level credit, eligible for application to master's programs around the world.

Introduction to African Security Issues

One of the Africa Center’s most popular offerings, this introductory-level seminar is designed to provide U.S. government officials who have little or no background in African security issues a basic understanding of political, social, military, and economic aspects of security in Africa and to introduce major U.S. policies and programs regarding Africa. Participants were given opportunities to network with key African security leaders, such as Ambassador Amina Salum Ali, the AU Mission Permanent Representative to the United States. The course also featured a practical exercise to demonstrate how the U.S. interagency process functions in the African theater. IASI participants gained an increased understanding of U.S. policy towards Africa, the interagency process and U.S. Africa Command. Participants also identified and explored U.S. security interests in Africa.

African Defense Attaché Seminar

The African Defense Attaché seminar created a forum for African embassy personnel to foster relationships with their U.S. government counterparts. Throughout the seminar, African defense attachés and embassy personnel were provided with information about the structure and workings of the U.S. government, with a focus on U.S. policies toward and programs in Africa. Participants were also given information about navigating the U.S. interagency process and interacting with key security-related government agencies, especially the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The relationships formed during the seminar provide useful points of entry for U.S. government personnel into the Africa diplomatic community and assist African embassy personnel in communicating their countries’ security priorities to policymakers in Washington, D.C.

Thematic programs

Counterterrorism Capacity Building Workshop: Combating terrorist financing in Eastern and Southern Africa

Countering trans-national threats remains at the forefront of security concerns around the globe. ACSS hosted its 5th Counter-Terrorism Workshop which built capacity to implement the African Union (AU) Plan of Action on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism, as well as regional and international cooperative protocols to regulate, monitor, investigate, and arrest financial transfers that support violent extremist organizations. During the Counter-Terrorism Finance workshop, attendees confirmed regional recommendations to create instruments against terrorist financing and policies to arrest financial transfers that support violent extremist organizations.

Combating Narcotics Trafficking in West Africa

This workshop examined recent findings on the organization, dynamics and extent of narcotics trafficking in West Africa; implications for national, sub-regional and global security; and the impact of drug smuggling on ongoing democratization, anti-corruption, development and public health efforts within West Africa. Initiatives by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and foreign security assistance partners to build African counter-narcotics capacity were highlighted, as well as lessons learned from counter-narcotics efforts in other regions of the world. As a result of the Counter Narcotics Trafficking workshop, participants developed regional and multi-lateral counter-narcotics legislation to be enforced via the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Anti-Narcotics Unit.

Maritime Safety and Security Seminar

The magnitude of the maritime threats and challenges confronting African countries remains daunting. In April 2010, ACSS brought together participants from across the continent to discuss key threats and opportunities to develop succinct national maritime security strategies in harmony with the African Union. The Africa Center’s ability to continue building upon this framework is critical to Undersecretary of Defense for Policy (USD(P)) goals for building the capacity of African states to maintain their own security while contributing to the stability of others. The seminar addressed several important goals of the African Union: a) identify common practices for successful maritime security; b) develop the necessary planning tools for building maritime security, c) craft a strategic framework for creating national maritime security plans, and d) reinforce ongoing African efforts to develop strategies for maritime safety and security. The Maritime Safety and Security Seminar was a catalyst for Tanzanian President Kikwete’s approval of new legislation to apprehend violators and try crimes of piracy in a court of law.

Managing Security Resources in Africa Seminar

The Managing Security Resources in Africa seminar underscored the link between security and the prudent administration of security resources. Participants attended plenary sessions and participated in more intimate discussion groups to share best practices with regards to security resource management. Additionally, the seminar built on and strengthened relationships between African security sector leaders and U.S. government personnel. During this seminar, participants conducted a capstone exercise that applied the concepts developed during the seminar and reinforced its theme of judicious security resource administration.

Enhancing Civil-Military Relations in Central Africa

The first in a series of sub-regional seminars aimed at improving civil-military relations in Africa, this workshop focused on current relations between Central Africa’s civil society and its security forces. U.S. government personnel with Africa-related security portfolios attended discussion groups, gleaned information about security sector issues in Central Africa, and shared their perspectives about civil-military relations in the American context.

The seminar provided a forum for Central African security sector and political leaders to candidly discuss the often delicate civil-military relations challenges faced by their countries.  

Combatant command support programs and other partnerships

“The Africa Center for Strategic Studies is a valuable partner in our ongoing effort to advance security cooperation and build partner capacity in Africa. The Center plays a pivotal role in building long-term relationships with African military, civilian, and defense officials. U.S. Africa Command extends its full support to the Center to meet continental and regional challenges in support of our theater strategic objectives.” – General William “Kip” Ward, Commander, United States Africa Command

The Africa Center for Strategic Studies

Africa Command Academic Symposium

In support of Africa Command’s growing threshold for theater stability, ACSS hosted its 5th Academic Symposium in July 2010. The program brought together participants from the United States, Canada, the European Union, 16 African countries, and representatives from both the African Union and U.S. Africa Command. The program enhanced understanding of U.S. Africa Command, its mission, and its objectives. After fruitful discussions, participants identified areas for further attention and offered U.S. military leaders several recommendations to better support peace and stability on the continent. The relationships fostered during the symposium deepened U.S. Africa Command’s connections to African academics and civil society institutions and will continue to grow as the Africa Center incorporates participants into its alumni network.

African Defense Force Joint Warrant Officer Symposium

In FY2010, ACSS completed its first strategic seminar focusing on the non-commissioned officer ranks. The program developing focused on peacekeeping issues, narcotics trafficking, health, readiness, environment, and supporting maritime security efforts. Following the Joint Warrant Officer Symposium, the Nigerian Minister of Defense agreed to implement a new training protocol to professionalize the enlisted corps and it is considering allocating up to 25% of education funding to noncommissioned officers.

Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa Workshop

Unlike combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, units assigned to CJTF-HOA are focused on stability operations and building partner capacity. The Joint Warfighting Center asked ACSS to support pre-deployment training by providing lectures on the political, economic, and security issues unique to the Horn of Africa. This prepared military members to assume responsibility for military operations in Djibouti.

Outreach

As ACSS has carried on, there is an increasing number of former participants of ACSS academic programs. More than 3,500 African and international participants have been involved in ACSS programs. In order to maintain stronger ties with such former participants, ACSS maintains an outreach program composed of three distinct efforts.

ACSS encourages members in countries to form alumni associations-called “Community Chapters.” The first community chapter was formed in Mali on October 18, 2003. As of February 2009, 22 community chapters have been established in Africa. These chapters are independent, non-government, apolitical organizations whose members seek to continue a dialogue regarding stability and security in their countries and their regions.

In addition, ACSS initiated Topical Outreach Programs (TOPS) in 2007. With TOPS, ACSS visits every country in Africa in which a community chapter has been formed. During these visits, ACSS meets with U.S. ambassadors and senior staff members, as well as senior African military and government officials to help build support for community chapters. ACSS also co-sponsors topical programs with the community chapters on security-related subjects relevant to each country. As of February 2009, ACSS has conducted 60 TOPS in 30 countries.

ACSS also maintains contact with African Defense Attachés in Washington DC. In 2009, the Africa Center established a U.S.-based community chapter, which includes former USG participants as well as members of the diplomatic community in Washington. Through the establishment of this chapter, ACSS hopes to strengthen its relationship with security-sector professionals in the U.S. who have expertise in African affairs.

Publications

ACSS’s research publications aim to expand the analysis and understanding of Africa’s security challenges. These publications are authored by ACSS faculty and independent scholars with the intention of generating evidenced-based insights while facilitating an exchange of views on effective strategies and practices for advancing Africa’s security. In this way and building on the Center’s strong network of relationships in Africa, the scholarship generated via the Research Program reinforces the Center’s ongoing educational and outreach efforts.

Recognizing that Africa’s security challenges are marked by their breadth and diversity, the ACSS Research Program pursues three integrated layers of analysis: strategic concerns, topical security challenges, and evidenced-based “best practices”. In this way, the Research Program aims to contribute to a conceptual framework for addressing security challenges in Africa as well as to solutions for specific priority issues. Consistent with the ACSS mission, all products generated from the Research Program endeavor to be practical, policy-relevant, and solutions-oriented.

ACSS publications include monthly eNewsletters, research papers, security briefs, books, and special reports.