A new paper by Dr Emmanuel Kotia argues that terrorism, cybercrime and porous borders have turned intelligence work into a frontline tool for keeping African states stable.
Intelligence agencies in Africa can no longer be thought of simply as spy outfits that gather secrets. That is the central argument of a paper by Dr Emmanuel Kotia, which makes the case that professional, well-governed intelligence services are now essential to peace, constitutional rule and long-term security on the continent.
The paper lists the pressures that have widened the job: terrorism and violent extremism, transnational organised crime, cyber threats, maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea, irregular migration, climate-driven insecurity, disinformation and unconstitutional changes of government.
Because these threats cross borders, Kotia argues, governments must move from reacting after an attack to making decisions based on analysed information gathered in advance.
From information to knowledge
The paper draws a line between information and intelligence. Information becomes intelligence only after it has been verified, evaluated and interpreted into something a decision-maker can act on. Kotia cites the scholar Mark Lowenthal (2025), who describes intelligence as covering three linked things: the agencies, the process and the finished products that guide strategy.
He groups national intelligence work into three broad areas. Internal or domestic intelligence tracks threats inside the country, including subversion, sabotage, organised crime and cyber attacks. External or foreign intelligence watches developments beyond the borders that could affect national security and foreign policy. Signals intelligence, known as SIGINT, covers communications and electronic intercepts and has grown in importance as governments and criminals alike move online.
Four lenses
The analysis rests on four theories. Realism casts intelligence as a tool of state survival. Human Security Theory shifts the focus to ordinary people, covering threats such as poverty, disease and bad governance. Security Sector Governance insists that agencies operate under law, with civilian control and parliamentary oversight to prevent political abuse and human rights violations. The Whole-of-Government approach argues that no single agency can handle modern threats alone.
Why West Africa matters
The paper points to the southward push of extremist groups from the Sahel — Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria and Chad — towards coastal West Africa, naming Ghana, Togo, Benin and Cote d'Ivoire as states now exposed.
It cites Ghana's preventive security framework, alongside Kenya's counter-terrorism coordination and Rwanda's integrated security governance, as national examples of early warning systems at work.
On the continental side, Kotia highlights the African Union's Continental Early Warning System (CEWS), which feeds assessments to the AU Peace and Security Council, as well as the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa, the AU Continental Police Cooperation Body (AFRIPOL) and the AU Counter-Terrorism Centre.
He also references the AU Strategy on Enhanced Integrated Border Governance, which treats borders not merely as lines on a map but as instruments of peace, regional integration and trade — provided they are managed with shared intelligence, joint patrols and risk analysis.
The conclusion is blunt: without professionalism, accountability and modern technology, intelligence services cannot deliver the stability African governments say they want.
Reported first by Asaase Radio on 2026-09-19. This article was written for our readers based on that report. Follow the link for the original coverage.
