Asymmetric security threat: UN urged to establish standing force

By Musa Umar Bologi

Abuja

Participants at a just concluded International Summit on Managing Asymmetric Security Challenges have called on United Nations to assist regional organisations to establish and maintain “well-trained and well-equipped counter-terrorism/insurgency forces that can operate separately or jointly to tackle asymmetric security challenges in their nations and regions.”
This was part of the 19-point recommendations of the four days summit, which was attended by Defence Attaches and Defence Advisers from 23 countries, at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja.
The seminar, with the theme: “Managing Asymmetric Security Challenges in the 21st Century” has as its objectives: “To build capacity towards a better understanding and managing of asymmetric security challenges amongst the armed forces of participating countries; draw lessons from the challenges and peculiarities common to all participating countries in the management of asymmetric security challenges; share knowledge on global asymmetric security challenges; create better understanding of cultural diversity among the participants; and strengthen relationship and encourage interaction amongst the participants.”
In a communique read by one of the resources persons, Prof. Osisioma Basil Chinedu, the participants also recommended that, since asymmetrical security challenges are global threats, there must be constant cooperation and collaboration among states in the areas of border security and sharing of intelligence, as well as “identifying and cutting off the sources of funding, weapons, equipment, and training for the non-state actors.”
While states cooperate and collaborate to tackle the challenges, they and their security agencies should be “flexible, proactive, and adaptive in managing asymmetric security challenges, and effectively combining deterrence approaches, the use of force and soft power, such as diplomacy, political process facilitation, as well as economic and development aids,” according to the communique.
The communique also endorsed continuous training and capacity building for military and security agencies for effective management of asymmetric security challenges.
“National governments and their security agencies should take all necessary steps to counter the increasing role of hard drugs in terrorism, and manipulation of religious beliefs and symbols by terrorists, insurgents and militants waging asymmetric warfare,” the communique stated.
“States are urged to protect all chemical, nuclear, biological and radiological devices that may be in their possession, and prepare their forces and citizens against any eventualities. In the same vein, states should prepare against economic, information, or ecological warfare, and make adequate plans for humanitarian needs.”

‘Don’t suppress conflict’
For enhanced peace and security in plural societies, the participants also recommended that governments should not suppress conflicts but manage them when they arise through dialogue (negotiation and bargaining) and ensuring that legitimate avenues of expressing grievances are made effective through strategic communication.
“It is suppression of conflicts and incapacitation of legitimate and pacific ways of expressing grievances or resolving them that throw up the option of extra-legal and violent means through militancy, terrorism, insurgency, or separatist movements. It is also crucial that the state protects its own integrity and that of its security agencies by being just and fair to all, as agent of distributive justice, with responsibility for the security and welfare of all citizens and groups,” they said.
They also suggested that governments should formulate relevant policies, map out and implement programmes that will eliminate the causal factors of asymmetric security challenges in their domains.

Local populace key to intelligence gathering
While the participants recognised the role of intelligence dealing with asymmetric security threats, they recommended synergy among various security agencies.
“The State should therefore ensure that no distractions are generated from inter-agency rivalry. This will enhance intelligence gathering and sharing among stakeholders.
“Citizens should be mobilised and intelligence given the right of way to lead national counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency efforts. Public education on the consequences of asymmetric security challenges should also be effected.
“For real time intelligence to be readily available to government and security agents in conflict theatres, all necessary measures should be put in place to protect and motivate the local populace, especially those that provide intelligence and to win their hearts and minds. This involves among others, ensuring that military operations are people-oriented. Positive or productive civil-military relations and cooperation should also be strengthened.”
They, however, said that “If intelligence must be relevant in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, and indeed, all national security situations, the ultimate consumer should eschew political, ethnic or religious sentiments. There must also be broad awareness among the populace about the real importance of intelligence to their security and that of the state.”
The participants endorsed that states develop threat analysis template on pre and post conflict engagement and administration of conflict theatres, while nations currently without military reserves should endeavour to establish them comprising especially of retired military and paramilitary personnel who could be deployed in ungoverned and reclaimed spaces/areas.

Post conflict preparedness
In the area of post conflict, the participants recommended that: “National governments should ensure that their authority and presence are established in all areas under its jurisdiction, to ensure that there are no ungoverned spaces; and that development reaches all nooks and crannies of the state. This will ensure that terrorists do not have convincing reasons to preach hatred against the state in the attempt to radicalise the local populace. In addition, efforts should be made to develop counter-narratives against terrorists’ ideologies and activities.
“Reconciliation should be part of the processes of rebuilding war affected communities undergoing post-war reconstruction and rehabilitation. This is to ensure that people whose dignities were hurt forgive and forget wrong doings perpetrated against them by the people they know. In addition, poverty alleviation and vocational training programmes should be mounted in the affected communities especially for the youths.
“Governments should create the enabling environment for local authorities, institutions and civil societies to function effectively in areas reclaimed by security forces from the terrorists.
“Governments need to enact policy on integrated national plan of action with a view to strengthening institutions for effective governance.”
Countries that participated in the seminar, including Nigeria, are: countries United States, Botswana, United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, Niger, Cameroon, Chad, China, Ghana, Togo, the Netherlands, Bangladesh, Egypt, Congo, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Russia, South Sudan, Turkey, Kenya, Angola and Denmark.

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