Column | “Orders From The Top” And Security Sector Reform

By Alagie Saidy-Barrow 

“Orders from the top” is the anthem of compromised and spineless security heads who have little to no understanding of security and what it means. In the days of Yaya Jammeh, no warrants were needed and no explanations were required when his mindless security officers went after Gambians because they “received orders from the top.” But this mindless acquiescence to power wasn’t unique to the security officers, government officials called it “presidential directives.” These holy presidential directives were one of the ways Jammeh and his enablers bilked Gambians out of billions! But in our simpleminded approach to transitional justice, we remain obsessed with security Junglers while colluding and embracing the financial Junglers. 

Key to any Security Sector Reform is a recalibration and reorientation of the mindsets. You know, the mindset that thinks security officers are working for people in power and not the people who actually pay their salaries. The mindset that thinks participating in the abuse of fellow citizens is defensible because they’re just “doing their job.” The mindset that thinks that all orders are to be obeyed because these minds are not equipped to handle situations where they have been given questionable orders. The mindset that thinks subordination to civilian authorities means executing the desires of political authorities. The mindset that conflates the ruling political party and its members with government authority. The mindset that conflates protecting power with protecting the people. The mindset that tethers its survival to the fortune of the political elite and government officials in power. For security sector reform to be remotely effective, those mindsets must be recalibrated and reoriented. 

Change of structure in the security services, composition, change in leadership, change in names, etc are all well and good but thoughtful education programs must be put in place for any effective reform. That way, security officers don’t simply rely on “orders from the top” because they see themselves as representatives of the “top.” Importantly, we cannot claim to be serious about security sector reform when we insist on fidelity to laws that give one person and his mandarins unchecked powers to manipulate the security personnel as he desires. Cue the recent promotions within the security services, specifically The Gambia Police Force. 

Security Sector Reform should go beyond personnel numbers, structure or posture, and the validation of policy documents. Critical to any serious reform is the mindset of the security personnel. If the minds are not recalibrated, the standard operating dictum will remain “we received orders from the top…” And because these security officials think they cannot build their houses, amass wealth or live comfortable lives if they don’t obey these “orders from the top,” they’ll continue to abuse Gambians all in the name of “we will not compromise on the security of the nation.” If one doesn’t know any better, you’d think their abuse of the people is about the security of the people as opposed to their desire to build homes, buy cars, live a comfortable life, and enjoy the trappings of power all because they executed the “orders from the top.”

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