SOAS Research Online

Abstract

The paper examines the role of non-state informal policing in Africa's crime prevention frameworks across multiple scales, focusing on sub-Saharan Africa, state-level dynamics, and community initiatives. Using Nigeria as a central case, with comparisons to Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, and South Africa, the study explores how corruption, weak institutions, and insufficient resources have predominantly contributed to the rise and continued reliance on non-state actors, such as community policing groups, vigilante organisations, and private security firms, to fill critical security gaps left by the state. Employing a historical and qualitative approach, the research traces the evolution of governance and security from pre-colonial times through the post-independence era, analysing data from historical documents, scholarly literature, and case studies. The findings reveal the complex interactions between state and non-state actors, offering insights into hybrid security governance and its implications for sustainable development in Africa. This study highlights the importance of a multi-scalar approach to security governance, providing valuable strategies for improving security in contexts of state fragility.