Introduction

Civil militias have emerged as the most vexing security problem faced by contemporary Africa. The problems, challenges and implications posed by civil militias have converted them into Africa's intractable security menace. The national and human security problems posed by civil militias are far worse than the current concerns and threats from terrorism in Africa. For the purposes of analytical and conceptual clarity, it is also important to distinguish the context of civil militiarism. Both the First and Second Generation definitions and conceptualisations of militias illustrate a public-private continuum. The state in Africa is a creation of European colonialism. European colonialism and its legacies bequeathed to African 'proto-states' a crumbling foundation for the creation of a post-colonial political order. This chapter presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. It explores how state collapse, civil wars and complex political emergencies have produced and proliferated civil militias in West Africa.