Having experienced centuries of oppressive Portuguese colonial rule and 24 years in the predatory grip of Suharto’s politico-military apparatus, Timor-Leste is one of the world’s newest (it became independent in 2002) and smallest (population of 1.2 million) countries. However, like all countries it is now bestowed with the powers and responsibilities of sovereignty. This comes 
SSR Blog
Monthly Archive
May | 2010
New Timorese navy signals shift in SSR ownership
By: Edward Rees | Monday, May 31st, 2010The military’s role in post-conflict law enforcement: DCAF report on Bosnia and Kosovo
By: Jesse Hembruff | Friday, May 28th, 2010Military support is necessary—but not sufficient—to win the fight against organized crime in post-conflict states, according to a recent report by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces. The report questions the role of the military in law enforcement and aims to fill an empirical knowledge gap in SSR by examining the
The uncertain future of security sector reform in Democratic Republic of Congo
By: Geoff Burt | Thursday, May 27th, 2010President Joseph Kabila has recently indicated that he would seek the withdrawal of MONUC, the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in time for the country’s 50th anniversary in 2011, despite a consensus from the international community that the Congolese security forces are not yet ready to provide security for their
Will World Development Report’s focus on security help address SSR funding gaps?
By: Nicolas Bouchet | Thursday, May 27th, 2010The World Bank’s World Development Report (WDR) for 2011 is currently under preparation with the working title “Conflict, security and development” (but let’s hope the final name will be more inspired). This is the first time since the creation of WDR in 1978 that security and conflict have been given such a central place in
Kosovo justice system facing challenges large and small
By: Jessica Teeple | Wednesday, May 26th, 2010Weak leadership and poor political support threaten the advancement of the justice system in Kosovo, according to a recent report by the International Crisis Group. Monitoring and oversight committees such as the Kosovo Judicial Council and Police Inspectorate of Kosovo are not working properly. In the North of Kosovo there is no sense of criminal
Somalia’s autonomous regions seek international assistance for increased SSR
By: Victoria Player | Tuesday, May 25th, 2010Somalia’s autonomous but internationally unrecognized region of Puntland was scarcely known in the West until it became the global centre of maritime piracy in the middle of the last decade. Efforts to counter piracy in the vital shipping routes along the Somali coastline have largely focused on the establishment of an internationally-patrolled shipping corridor. However,
The end of military adventurism in Thailand?
By: Mark Harris | Tuesday, May 25th, 2010Since 1932, Thailand has experienced 11 successful and 7 attempted coups. The most recent military adventure into Thai politics was in 2006 when Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted from power in a bloodless coup. It was the first coup in 15 years, coming after several years of attempts to reform and downsize the military.
Afghanistan’s ambitious reintegration plan worries critics
By: Jesse Hembruff | Friday, May 21st, 2010On May 12, US President Obama backed the Afghan government’s new plan to demobilize and reintegrate Taliban combatants willing to renounce violence and respect the Afghan constitution. The Afghan Peace and Reintegration Plan (APRP) was formerly presented at the London Conference in January and is to be formally presented at a Peace Jirga of tribal
Endgame: Thai security operation against the red-shirts on May 19
By: Mark Harris | Thursday, May 20th, 2010After two months of anti-government mass demonstrations in Bangkok, the ongoing stalemate between the Thai authorities and red-shirt protestors ended in violence on May 19. The beginning of the end started at dawn when Thai security forces broke through makeshift barriers in APCs to enter the sprawling downtown protest area. Firing live rounds at militant
UN to revise MINUSTAH mandate in earthquake aftermath
By: Keith McManamen | Thursday, May 20th, 2010The UN Secretary-General has released a report evaluating the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in the aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, which is expected to prompt the Security Council to take action to revise MINUSTAH’s mandate to reflect the post-disaster environment. Although MINUSTAH had entered a period of consolidation prior to
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