Community-oriented policing: missing link in AU counter-terrorism operations

Summary

Since 2018, Africa has become the global epicentre of violent extremism, with over 23,000 terrorism deaths in 2023. Despite national and continental efforts, the crisis continues to deepen. This policy brief argues that community-oriented policing (COP)—a globally recognised strategy for preventing radicalisation at the local level—remains critically underused in Africa's counter-terrorism responses. Most AU peace support operations, including the MNJTF and G5 Sahel Joint Force, have relied purely on military measures, with only ATMIS including a limited police component. The absence of policing elements has resulted in weak community engagement, missed opportunities to build local police capacity, and an inability to address organised crime dynamics. Research identifies the lack of policing capability as a key challenge, with liberated areas often falling again to extremist groups due to inconsistent community engagement. The brief concludes that while military operations are important, community-oriented policing is essential for building sustainable peace. It calls on the AU and African countries to prioritise COP, include more police in peace missions, and provide personnel trained in community-oriented policing to effectively combat radicalisation and terrorism across the continent.

Keywords

community-oriented policing, AU, counter-terrorism, Africa