Peace & Stability Journal Volume 8, Issue 1 | Page 15

Border Security Management
Although the concept of borders has historically shifted in definition due to globalization and increased technology , nonetheless , borders still define the territorial sovereignty of states and play a pivotal role in global peace and security . Consequently , the consolidation of borders remains one of the key factors in building stable states , and more importantly the fight against the increasing threat of terrorism in Africa . This means that , all governments or member-states across Africa should aim at maintaining secure borders , not only as a requirement for national sovereignty , but also as a measure for ensuring terrorist groups do not exploit existing border weaknesses to perpetrate acts of terrorism . In this regard , there is the need to adopt comprehensive normative frameworks on border security management , properly demarcate various borders , and provide adequate infrastructure to enable border managers to be able to detect and prevent possible entry of terrorists . Indeed , the fluidity of African borders has facilitated the movement of terrorist networks across the region , especially with the increasing radicalization and growth of violent extremists groups .
With the possible exception of SADC , the other four regions of Africa continue to grapple with the threat of terrorism . There is no doubt that the continued destabilization of Libya with multiple terrorist groups operating with relatively impunity , inherently implies that other North African states need to collaborate for effective border security management . In West Africa , the persistent insurgency of BH in Nigeria , and isolated attacks in neighboring states such as Cameroon , Niger and Chad , has called for more collaborative efforts . The establishment of the MNJTF within the Lake Chad Basin is significant in this regard . The repeated attacks of al-Shabaab in Kenya acts as a forcing function for collaborative border security measures among the East African states . Similar effort is needed in the Central African states , with the development of the ' anti-balaka ' militia in Central African Republic , which occasionally attacks AU peacekeepers . The AU in part developed the AU Border Programme ( AUBP ) based on the requirement for collaborative border security . The AUBP was established on four pillars : delimitation and demarcation ; cross border cooperation ; capacity and partnership ; and resource mobilization . Efforts should be made at implementing this landmark policy document for effective border management .
Border Security and Terrorism
Africa experienced significant level of terrorist activities over the past two years . The continent is facing daunting tasks

13 of managing its borders in ways that secures their territorial sovereignty and integrity , ensuring bridges rather than barriers exist between states . States are recognized under international law for their capability to maintain their boundaries , secure their territories , and protect their citizens . The ability to secure national borders is one of the criteria used to classify states as strong , weak or failed . Terrorist have been crossing porous and poorly secured borders in Africa with ease , often armed with weapons , bomb making material and radical ideology . One particular area of note for the ease of terrorist movements is the Sahel region .

CONCLUSION
This paper argued that terrorism constitutes a major security challenge in Africa , notwithstanding the fact that legal frameworks and anti-terrorism measures and strategies exist across the continent . As evidenced in this paper , most measures adopted by states in responding to terrorist threats have been at best less than effective , and at worst , counter-productive . In Nigeria , for instance , the adoption of hard core military anti-terrorism approach emboldened BH , changing its tactics to become even more daring and violent in killing innocent civilians in unimaginable proportions . The AU ’ s coordinated attacks on Al-Shabaab in Kenya precipitated reprisal attacks , killing many people in Kenya . The question then is how do states and regional organizations in Africa prevent and respond to terrorist attacks ? Intelligence gathering , regular training and effective border security management are all important aspects of an anti-terrorism campaign . Regional and continental organizations such as ECOWAS , ECCAS and the AU should ensure there are sustained efforts at addressing governance challenges such as corruption , inequality , marginalization , youth unemployment among others , which are drivers of violent extremism .
Notes :
1
Andrews Atta-Asmoah , “ Transnational and domestic terrorism in Africa : Any linkages ?' in Okumu , W . and Botha , A . Eds ., ( 2009 ) " Domestic terrorism in Africa : Defining , addressing and understanding its impact on human security ", ( Pretoria : Institute for Security Studies : 2009 ). See also Kwesi Aning , ( 2011 ). ‘ Security links between trafficking and terrorism in the Sahel ’ in Africa South of the Sahara ( London : Routledge : 20011 ); Makarenko , T . “ The Crime-Terror Continuum : Tracing the Interplay between Transnational Organized Crime and Terrorism ”, Global Crime , Vol . 6 , No1 , 2004 .
2
Paul Collier and Anke Hoeffler , ( 2002 )’ Greed and Grievances in Civil War ’, Centre for the study of African Economics Working Paper .