1. By Syl JuxonSmith
Past Chairman ASIS Ghana Chapter278
Business, International Trade, Security Consult
[TransAfrica2000]
[SECURITY IN WEST AFRICA]
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2. “SECURITY IN WEST AFRICA”
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ECOWAS
From the Maghreb - Sahel to the West Coast Axis

3. “SECURITY IN WEST AFRICA”
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From the Maghreb - Sahel to the West Coast Axis
ECOWASOil Tankers
Flash Spot
Oil Rigs
Haulage Trucks

4. INTERNATIONAL CRIME & RESOURCE PILLAGING
“The West Africa Axis is experiencing a sudden surge in professional high grade criminal
activities, growing risks’ and threats escalation from International criminal syndicates,
terrorists’ and piracy in its maritime activities already posing a danger to the OIL and Gas
Business, trade and investments impacting on local and regional economies.”
Today, crimes are well sophisticated influenced by international syndicates operating through
the TRANS AFRICA COASTAL HIGHWAYS connecting 12 West African cities totaling about
4,560 kilometers which 83% is already paved and motorable. With the latest technology,
communications gadgets , inside contacts and connections and money movements are
coordinated in collaboration with precision beyond detection. The drugs trade, contraband
goods, human trafficking, high level financial scams and money laundering are all in
collaboration with white collar bureaucracies compromising because of ineffective Safety
and Security mechanism in place for early warning signals, monitoring and managing such
level of sophisticated cross border crimes and illegal activities bedeviling the West African
Region rapidly becoming a HUB AND TRANSIT GATEWAY.
Africa`s WEAKEST LINK as its stands today, is its SECURITY. Our lack of SECURITY
infrastructure upgrades, human resource capacity to maintain and support what we have
already meeting modern challenges is a serious indictment. Technology today is the biggest
threat to mankind. “WARS are fought not by the strength of your army but by the quality
of your modern technology Infrastructure.”
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5. ASYMMETRIC RISKS & THREATS
1. Active Major Elements - Boku Haram, Al Shabaab, Mujawa, Al-
Qaeda, Triads, South American Syndicates, Local Militants etc
2. Piracy - Gulf of Guinea, Atlantic Coastline, Fishing Trawlers'
Poaching
3. Drugs - Cannabis, Cocaine, Heroine, Hashish, Amphetamine
4. Human Traffic - Child Labour and Prostitution
5. Terrorism - Insurgencies, Militancy, Fundamentalism, Coups
D'état, Weapon of Mass Destruction (Uranium)
6. Political Violence - Election Campaigns, Youth Unemployment,
Tribal and Religious Intolerance
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6. DEFINING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, INDUSTRIES & BUSINESSES
“Auditing – Manuals – Preparedness”
1. Oil and Gas – Refineries, Pipelines, Off Shore Rigs, Storages
2. Telecommunications – Cell Sites, Transmitters, Satellites
3. Mining - Gold, Diamonds, Iron ore, Uranium, Coltan
4. Transportation - Haulage, Buses, Hiring
5. Aviation - Airports (ICAO)
6. Maritime - Harbours (IMO)
7. Embassies - VIP Residences, Expatriates, Visitors, Tourists
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7. LOGISTICS, OUTSOURCING & PROCUREMENT
Procuring is only the beginning in finding solutions'. In such sector you must
have professionals to work in collaboration for better oversight. Usually all
over the world you must meet certain criteria with level of professionalism
before you can deal with governments or critical industries infrastructures.
Critical mission infrastructural procurement's falls under three categories
which are;
A. NOMINATIVE TENDER
B. SELECTIVE TENDER
C. OPEN OUTSOURCED TENDER
There are equipments and accessories in three categories;
1. LOW TIER 2. MID TIER 3. HIGH TIER.
These items are of various standards, warranty and qualities which must be
understood by the buyer for better and efficient delivery of service.
You get only what you pay for or bargain.
This is where experience and professionalism of consultants or companies
selected to procure or outsource equipment's and service is very important
to the solutions from the initial stage of any project for sustainability.
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8. THE WAY FORWARD
African Governments, corporations, conglomerates, and major industries players,
stake holders such as the OIL and GAS industries, critical MINERAL RESOURCE
mining sector has been part of the problems because of lack of well defined
policies in place across board; fueled by complacency and lackadaisical attitude
towards SAFETY AND SECURITY must now equally stand up to the task of been
part of the SOLUTIONS...!
We can also see that signals of intimidations from TERRORIST GROUPS has
ignited FEAR and generated in the regional leaders APATHY which has left many
paralyzed in not having to want to share INTEL and even commit troops or other
means of logistics for fear of REPRISALS.
Leaders have confined themselves in now looking internally than externally
embracing collaborative actions in managing evolving trends from well organized
and sophisticated trans-national criminal syndicates and gangs operating cross
border activities affecting the region peace, safety, security and stability.
The main symptom in many African countries leading to many coups,
insurgencies and sophisticated crimes is the harboring by governments and the
security agencies, partners and stake holders A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY. There
should be a paradigm shift in thoughts and security culture because threats are
dynamic and ever evolving, it is REAL. “A TIME TO BE PROACTIVE” [SJS]
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9. “SECURITY IN WEST AFRICA”
From the Maghreb - Sahel to the West Coast Axis
THANK YOU
LIBYA
NIGERIA
SOMALIA
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ECOWAS
IVORY COAST
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