Africa must join hands to fight organised crime

Lazarus Sauti

Organised crime is a threat to African citizens, businesses, state institutions as well as the economy as a whole.

Criminals easily operate across borders, which creates a need for consistent African–level action.

Furthermore, a rise in organised crime, drug trafficking and piracy is a threat to peace and stability across Africa.

This means the African Union should continuously adapts its response in relation to the growing complexity of the situation.

It should co-operate and share information on security matters to fight organised crime, drug trafficking and related security threats.

This is the reason why a security expert, Ottilia Maunganidze, believes African governments need to work together to develop effective strategies to combat organised crimes and drug-related challenges on the continent.

She says: “Combating organised crime cannot be done in isolation. Not only will states need to engage in greater co-operation and information sharing, but a more holistic strategy is required.

“Policies should therefore be consistent and complementary and that means government departments that deal with illicit drugs should be on the same page to encourage clear responses.”

Maunganidze adds, “There is need for institutional strengthening, particularly in the justice system and to prioritise the protection of vulnerable and marginalised groups.

“There is also need to end the perceived impunity for transnational organised crime and trafficking.”

Modern organised crime requires a multi-disciplinary approach to effectively prevent and counter it.

Accordingly, the AU should develop administrative approaches which can best be described as a combination of tools at administrative level to prevent organised crime from infiltrating the public sector, the economy or key parts of the public administration.

There is also need for African governments to obtain the support of regional organisations and the international community to build and sustain the required capacity in information-sharing, prevention, investigation, law enforcement and border management.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon believes: “We have a responsibility to cooperate even more closely with Member States, as well as with regional and international organisations. We must now be ready to do even more to keep the situation from escalating.”

Sharing Moon’s sentiment, UNODC Executive Director, Yury Fedotov underscores the importance of a multi-dimensional and strategic approach that works at the local, national and regional levels.

“Our overall goal is to support and strengthen local institutions, and encourage partnerships among States and regional organisations, such as the Economic Community of West African States. All our activities are based on the principle of shared responsibility,” he says.

The African Union’s plan on Drug Control and Drug Prevention should also be supported by all African countries.

Olawale Maiyegun, a Nigerian national, says, “Efforts to implement the AU plan of action on Drug Control and Drug Prevention (2013-2017), which aims to reduce illicit drug use; trafficking and associated crimes should be fully supported.”

The AU plan of action acknowledges that drug profits were distorting the economies of many African countries and in some of the poorer states; the value of trafficked drugs exceeded the country’s gross national income.

Since political will is needed to effectively combat organised crime in the continent, politicians in African countries should be at a forefront to discourage organised crimes.

Alastair Reid, risk analyst with AKE Group comments, “As drug abuse and organised crime become more and more of an African issue with African users then I think the domestic will within Africa will increase to combat the problem.”