COUNTERINSURGENCY OPERATIONS IN THE WEST AFRICA SAHEL REGION: LESSONS FOR GHANA ARMY SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES IN NORTHERN GHANA
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Authors
Owusu, Appah Y.
Subjects
Sahel
insurgency
kinetic
non-kinetic
civic action
Ghana Army Special Operations Forces
counterinsurgency
counterterrorism
population centered
northern Ghana
Ghana Army Special Operations Brigade
Ghana Armed Forces
Flintlock
insurgency
kinetic
non-kinetic
civic action
Ghana Army Special Operations Forces
counterinsurgency
counterterrorism
population centered
northern Ghana
Ghana Army Special Operations Brigade
Ghana Armed Forces
Flintlock
Advisors
Sepp, Kalev I.
Date of Issue
2022-12
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The thesis assesses the capabilities of the Ghana Army special operations forces (SOF) and how they can be employed to support counterinsurgency (COIN) operations in Ghanaian regions that are threatened by the spread of insurgency in Africa’s Sahel region. The porosity of borders between northern Ghana and Burkina Faso in the Sahel, the similarity of situations between the Sahel and northern Ghana, and the quick spread of the Sahel insurgency to other parts of West Africa have made northern Ghana highly susceptible to the jihadist insurgency. The study analyzes secondary materials and data and finds that, in addition to the latent issues in the Sahel countries, the over-securitization of COIN operations in the Sahel, notably by France, has yielded unimpressive results. From the analysis, the thesis draws useful lessons for Ghana. While best COIN practices require an effective combination of kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, COIN operations in the Sahel have generally been kinetic. This has led to some pundits describing COIN operations in the Sahel as a “security traffic jam.” Based on lessons from the Sahel crisis, assessed capabilities of the Ghana Army SOF, and within a framework of comprehensive COIN operations, the thesis recommends specific tasks for the Ghana Army SOF to support COIN operations in northern Ghana.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Defense Analysis (DA)
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Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
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