Peace and Security in Africa

By

Jacob Waiswa Buganga
Peace Psychologist – Integrated Mental-Health Initiative (IMI),
Narambhai Road West, Plot No. 15,
P.O. Box  1007,
Jinja, Uganda;
Email:  waiswajacobo@yahoo.co.uk/
dishma.imhs@gmail.com
www.integratedmentalhealth.blogspot.com
www.integratedmhi.org
Tel.: +255755648125/+256774336277.

I am a peace psychologist and projects associate, now living and working in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Since 2003, I have worked with civil society organizations and supported strengthening of good governance, through research, training, project designs, implementations, and advocacies. I have strong interest in human and ecological security perspectives and well-being, with great emphasis in applying of research based psychological models to transform conflict in order to effect healing and attain peace, through research and practice. I have been published widely in both print and internet media since 2004 and key speaker at international meetings.

Issues of peace and security in Africa are a robust requirement; unfortunately, we have very few professional experts in peace and security development. Lack of human resource necessary to avert conflict and redefine security in line with contemporary challenges remains a challenge –which by me adding to the existing numbers of peace experts in Africa, will be able to fill the void not only for the good of the greats lakes region but the world at large. These are critical issues one might love to see addressed –through redefinition of the state as legitimate instrument with the sole ownership of the means of violence. We need to begin looking at environmental security –from which life systems are sustained; food security, health security, education security, employment security, and revenue security dimensions –here their mismanagement can cause worst violence compared to one the state would if it failed to grasp different aspects of insecurity. Peace and development studies will help advance these notions forward for policy conceptualization, analysis, development and implementation.

Peace and security training gives the depth of security content as pathway to peace beyond the current position where in the general studies of peace and conflict studies it is undertaken as a four months course unit. Delving greater into it obvious increases more understanding and relevant of peace studies with an African perspective with the biggest burden of primary security concerns as economic insecurity (poverty), educational insecurities and health insecurities.  By developing my peace and security mental faculty, I will be in position to argue out my cases right from an expert view point in my advocacy work, journaling moments and in an expert’s future dispensation of services in conflict management. And coming from background of community mental health, at any level and situations a feeling of security and in control is vital for sanity to prevail among individuals –an element I could add on the discipline. Lack of control and feeling of insecurity within individuals is regulated by most African states to render citizens ‘governable’ –only dependent on the state for survival –a point where the state will be supported to reign and continue ‘helping’ those people to survive.

The growing rise of educated Africans and elitism demand operational democracy: not just theories and their manipulations by African prototype governance systems. The sense of security and certainty of the future is thus deem as security focus remains control of the wealth of those of have away from those who do not have. Under such circumstances revolutions will be part and parcel of the search for security and peace –united. At any level security and peace must be sought through action when entire population is let to know and practice their rights –which on the other hand compel governments to act responsibly. The people must give direction to weak leaders as a means to achieve security and peace. Peace and security studies will help us dig deep in the various forms of insecurity that take toll on individuals and soon affect families, nation, regions and the world. In the same way it will help the state identify and understand the primary insecurities –both perceived and manifested ones that will cost it a fortune once it fails to deliver people expectations. Once people and the state are made aware of the real legitimacy of citizenship and leadership, then civility in both will reign. Because the gun has been tested and nullified as a means to achieve security beyond the people power; peace and security studies help to elevate that understanding for which the state could invest in most.