What to do with informal security and justice

The widespread and long-standing use of informal security and justice providers across Africa presents governments, and more particularly, the political community, with a challenge. On the one hand, they want to maintain a monopoly of the legitimate use of violence. On the other hand, with limited resources available, that monopoly can rarely be provided. Politically uncertain, and anxious over loss of control and resistance from security professionals and donors, governments have tried excluding, partnering, delegating or even imitating the informal sector. Yet, until they define what the state is in African terms, they will not be able to ‘solve’ the conundrum of informal security.