Liberia: Performing the Symbols of the Past, Reinventing the Symbols of the Future Liberian Studies Association Conference, Indiana University, 23-25.03.07 Reinventing the Security Sector in Liberia: Lessons Learnt from Public Perceptions Judy Smith-Höhn
Liberia: Performing the Symbols of the Past, Reinventing the Symbols of the Future Liberian Studies Association Conference, Indiana University, 23-25.03.07.
Jan 02, 2016
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Liberia: Performing the Symbols of the Past,Reinventing the Symbols of the Future Liberian Studies Association Conference, Indiana University, 23-25.03.07
Reinventing the Security Sector in Liberia: Lessons Learnt from Public Perceptions
Judy Smith-Höhn
20.04.23 2
Outline
1. Methodology
2. Presentation of selected results
3. Conclusion: relevance of local perceptions for security sector reform
20.04.23 3
1. Methodology
Three methods:
1. Survey poll of 700 Respondents in the 3 urban areas of
Monrovia, Tubmanburg and Buchanan
2. 4 focus group discussions of 6-8 persons
3. Approx. 30 semi-standardised interviews with elites and
local as well as international experts
20.04.23 4
2. Results
Three guiding questions:
How do Liberians perceive security today,
who do Liberians consider to be relevant security
actors, and
how have security perceptions changed over time?
20.04.23 5
Perceptions of security today
Table 1: Perceptions of general and personal security in Liberia today
Public safety (in %) Personal safety (in %)
Very safe 20.3 25.6
It’s okay 40.1 43.7
Fairly unsafe 26.9 23.5
Not safe at all 10.5 6.2
No answer/ Don't know 2.2 1.0
N = 698
20.04.23 6
Table 2: Which group is the most important one for your
personal safety?
Actors Percentage
UNMIL 75,9
Liberia National Police 17,9
Armed Forces of Liberia 2
Ex-Combatants 0,1
ECOWAS 0,1
Poro/Sandee 0,1
Vigilante Teams/ Community Watch Teams 0,1
Family 0,1
no answer/ don’t know 3,4
N: 698
20.04.23 7
Types of
Actors
very/somewhat important to
personal security
does not affect personal security
somewhat/a big threat to personal security
International UNMIL 94,9 2 1,4
State Liberia National Police 91,9 4,6 2,9
Armed Forces of Liberia 64,8 23,8 9,3
Internat. / comm. non-state
Private Security Co.’s 38,3 52,2 3,8
Domestic non-state
Community Watch Teams 56,6 17,9 15,5
Poro/Secret Societies 15,7 46,4 26,1
Political Party Militias 7,2 36,3 42,8
Street Boys 0,4 6,3 78,6
Ex-Combatants 3,3 6,9 86,8
Table 3: Rating of security actors in urban Liberia today
N = 698 (out of total sample of 700); % of ‘Don’t know’ and ‘no answer’ responses not shown
20.04.23 8
Diagram 1: Mapping of Security Arena in Liberia today
Ministry of Defense
UNMIL
Community Watch Teams
Bur. of Immigration and Naturalization
Liberia National Police
National Security Agency
National Bureau of Investigation
Ministry of National Security
Priv. Security Companies
Ex- Combatants
National Fire Service
Special Security Service
Poro/Sandee
EXTERNAL STATE NON-STATE
disputed------
positive
negative
cooperation
rivalry
Legend:
rivalry within
20.04.23 9
Changing perceptions of security over time
Table 4:
Perceptions of changes in national and personal security
Public safety (in %) Personal safety (in %)
Much better 33.7 28.4
Somewhat better 51.3 57.7
No Change 6.3 5.6
Worse 4.4 4.6
Much worse 2.5 2.4
No answer 1.7 1.3
20.04.23 10
Diagram 2: Mapping of Security Arena in 2003
disputed---------
positive
negativecooperationrivalry
Legend:
Vigilante
MODEL
ATU
SOD
LURD
GOL/militia
Poro/Sandee
Before:
20.04.23 11
Diagram 1: Mapping of Security Arena in Liberia today
Ministry of Defense
UNMIL
Community Watch Teams
Bur. of Immigration and Naturalization
Action Agents
Liberia National Police
National Security Agency
National Bureau of Investigation
Ministry of National Security
Priv. Security Companies
Ex- Combatants
National Fire Service
Special Security Service
Poro/Sandee
EXTERNAL STATE NON-STATE
disputed------
positive
negative
cooperation
rivalry
Legend:
rivalry within
After:
20.04.23 12
3. Conclusion
Past Future
20.04.23 13
Thank you!
20.04.23 14
Any questions?
20.04.23 15
Additional slide
Perceptions of security - Liberia and Sierra Leone
compared
Public safety (in %) Personal safety (in %)
Liberia Sierra Leone Liberia Sierra Leone
Very safe 20.3 14.7 25.6 20.7
It’s okay 40.1 32.3 43.7 40.9
Fairly unsafe 26.9 37.9 23.5 27.5
Not safe at all 10.5 13.4 6.2 10.3
No answer/ Don't know 2.2 1.7 1.0 0.7
Liberia N = 698; Sierra Leone N=702
20.04.23 16
Actors Percentage
Ex-Combatants 70,5
Street Boys 9,3
Criminals (armed robbers) 4,4
Liberian National Police 2,4
Political Party Militias 2,2
Armed Forces of Liberia 1,6
UNMIL 1,0
Poro/Sandee (secret societies) 0,5
Other 2,7
None 5,4
Additional slide
Table: Which group do you feel is the biggest threat to you
personally?
20.04.23 17
Additional slide: Focus groups in Sierra Leone
Mapping the security arena in SL today (market women)
Police
Council
Chiefdom Police
Army
OSD
Community (Market Women)
Headman
Soweis
Chief
Community Night Watch
Market Women Ojeh
Hunting
Poro
STATE NON-STATE
positive
negative
cooperationrivalry
Legend:
disputed
rivalry within
20.04.23 18
Additional slide: Focus groups in Sierra Leone Mapping the security arena in SL 3 years ago
Police
City Council Police
SLA
Private Security Comp.
Chiefdom Police
OSD
UNAMSIL
EXTERNAL STATE NON-STATE
disputed
positive
cooperationcooperation all
Legend
20.04.23 19
Additional slide: Focus groups in Sierra Leone
Mapping the security arena in SL 5 years ago
Police
City Council Police
SLA
CDFEO (Executive
Outcomes)
PSCs
Chiefdom Police
Gbethis
OSD
ECOMOG
CDUYouth
AFRC
RUF
EXTERNAL STATE NON-STATE
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