Out of the Box: Rethinking Africa’s Security

Abstract

Africa’s enduring security challenges have for decades been approached through militarized
strategies inherited from colonial administration approaches that often suppress conflict
momentarily but fail to address the deep structural, socio-economic, and political roots of
violence. This article contends that such heavy reliance on force has entrenched what Johan
Galtung terms “negative peace”: a fragile calm maintained through coercion rather than genuine
reconciliation and justice. In contrast, the study advocates for a transformative security paradigm
anchored in Galtung’s theory of Positive Peace, which highlights the need for social justice,
inclusive governance, and equitable development as foundational pillars of sustainable peace.
Drawing on recent case studies from Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the
Congo, the paper demonstrates that militarization not only fails to resolve grievances but often
exacerbates them, deepening societal divisions and feeding cycles of retribution. Furthermore, the
analysis emphasizes the rising influence of Africa’s Generation Z, whose digital activism has
proven to be a powerful tool for civic mobilization, nonviolent resistance, and exposing the
limitations of outdated security models. From the #EndSARS movement in Nigeria to youth-led
protests against unpopular policies in Kenya, young people are demanding new forms of
accountability and participatory governance that reject brute force in favour of dialogue and
peaceful action. Importantly, it argues that integrating peace education into the school curricula,
revitalizing traditional community mediation mechanisms, and empowering local voices are
essential steps toward building resilient, people-centered security structures. Moreover, it calls
for policymakers, civil society, and international partners to shift resources away from excessive
militarization and toward social investments that address inequality and economic
disenfranchisement. Ultimately, the study proposes that Africa’s security future depends on an
out-of-the-box approach that blends theoretical insight with practical community-led solutions,
forging a path where peace is not simply the absence of war, but the active presence of justice,
opportunity, and hope for all.