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Transnational organised crime in Africa
The past decade has seen dramatic shifts in the conversation around transnational organised crime (TOC) in Africa. While the continent has enjoyed increasing stability and rising economic growth, this has also facilitated cross-border criminal activity across the continent.
The unprecedented openness in trade, finance, travel and communication has also given rise to enormous opportunities for criminals. Surpassing borders, organised crime threatens governance, peace and development.
Organised crime affects every section of society, from state actors to local communities. It fuels corruption and conflict, infiltrates business and politics, and triggers violence often directed at society’s most vulnerable, while at the same time diverting resources that could be dedicated to development, reducing poverty or improving basic services.
Criminal organisations use legitimate state structures to sustain the circulation and sale of illicit goods, facilitate money laundering and minimise the risk of prosecution. In addition, certain forms of organised crime are linked with conflict and violent extremism in Africa.
Responses to organised crime have traditionally been framed within a criminal justice or security context – with little consideration for tackling it from a socio-economic perspective. This calls for a more holistic understanding of the phenomenon and its impact.
ENACT: Enhancing Africa’s response to transnational organised crime
Recognising that organised crime poses challenges not only to Africa, but also to surrounding regions, the international community has been working to develop effective, long-term responses.
The European Union (EU) has placed security in Africa at the forefront of its international agenda, notably though its Pan-African Programme – the first programme of its kind to centre on development and cooperation, and covering Africa as a whole.
One project under the Pan-African Programme is ENACT: Enhancing Africa’s capacity to respond more effectively to transnational organised crime. ENACT works to mitigate the impact of transnational organised crime (TOC) in Africa on development, governance, security and the rule of law.
It achieves this in two ways: first, by building knowledge and offering evidence-based analysis of TOC in Africa, which will inform policy and enhance cooperation at the regional and continental level. Secondly, ENACT builds skills and capacity among key African stakeholders to better respond to transnational organised crime and mitigate its impact.
ENACT project partners
The ENACT project is implemented by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), in partnership with INTERPOL and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC).
The Institute for Security Studies partners to build knowledge and skills that secure Africa’s future. It is the only pan-African civil society organisation working on African security, development and justice. Established more than three decades ago, the ISS works with governments, regional organisations and the African Union, as well as international multilateral institutions, donors and development agencies, and civil society. The ISS aims to enhance human security in Africa by providing independent and authoritative research, expert policy advice, and practical training and technical assistance. The ISS has offices in Pretoria, Nairobi, Addis Ababa and Dakar.
INTERPOL is the world’s largest international police organisation. With over 190 member states, INTERPOL’s primary mandate is to enable police to work together to make the world a safer place. With its unparalleled convening power, high-tech infrastructure and technical and operational support, INTERPOL helps national police services to meet the growing challenge of fighting crime in the 21st century. INTERPOL has a National Central Bureau in each of the African Union’s 55 member states, and facilitates coordinated, specialised actions against priority organised crimes in Africa.
The Global Initiative against Transnational Organised Crime is an international civil society organisation that aims to provide better global responses to transnational organised crime. The Global Initiative coordinates an expert network of more than 200 independent, global and regional experts working on security, human rights, democracy, governance and development issues. Through catalytic research, policy advice and the development of practical tools, the expertise of the Global Initiative’s network members is made available to a wide range of stakeholders, promoting multi-sectoral strategies and action.
