Involvement of the private security sector in African conflicts, peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance operations : final technical report (3 November 2008 – 3 May 2012)

Unregulated privatization of Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs) poses many challenges to the attainment of African peace and security. The project investigated private security sector involvement in African conflicts, peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance operations, towards development and application of appropriate norms and standards, including the revision of the 1977 OAU Convention on the Elimination of Mercenarism in Africa. Two examples that epitomize the rise of PMSCs in Africa are the involvement of Executive Outcomes in conflicts in Angola and Sierra Leone, and Sandline International involvement in Sierra Leone. Founders of the industry, these companies are now considered mercenaries