The Role of Defence Diplomacy in Enhancing Regional Stability in Africa: Case Study of Kenya Defence Forces

Abstract

The multifaceted existence of threats to state security has posed a major challenge to states' strategic posture in Africa. This very dynamic environment has brought with it complex and ever evolving security implications for states. Diplomatic and military means therefore can be viewed as some of the means by which states pursue global and regional security using a mixture of policies and non-policy means. African states have struggled to develop effective security arrangements at the regional level. The main objective of this study is to examine the role of defense diplomacy in enhancing regional stability in Africa with a focus on the Kenya Defense Forces. The study examines the trends in respect to defense diplomacy as an enabler of global peace and security, assesses the role of defense diplomacy in enhancing regional stability in Africa and analyzes the challenges and future prospects of securing Africa through defense diplomacy. The study is informed by the neo-liberalism theory. The study uses both qualitative and quantitative research designs including both primary and secondary data. The research paper establishes that defense diplomacy is gaining ground in Africa with gradual but steady adoption being noted. The utilization of defence diplomacy is evident through bilateral and multilateral partnerships as well as through cooperation agreements. Defence diplomacy is associated with western countries and attached to the idea of colonial masters “keeping in touch” with their former colonies. The research paper also establishes that defense diplomacy plays a key role in fostering unity through regional institutions and organizations in Africa. Through avenues such as joint military training, sports, exchange programs, defense attaches and peace keeping missions, African states are moving towards full utility of defense diplomacy to secure the continent. Further, the study establishes that the complete operationalization of defense diplomacy faces challenges including unclear link between the objectives, means and ends, loopholes in policies, limited fitting of country legislation into regional defense policies, lack of a single conceptualization of defense diplomacy, limited resources and self-interests among African nations who want to forge their own defense policies. In view of the future prospects of using defense diplomacy to secure Africa, it is noted that strengthening of multilateral and bilateral institutions, incorporation of members of the public and diverse constituencies in decision making and capitalizing on communication especially digital communication would give defence diplomacy more mileage. In addition, maximizing on the ideology of the “African solutions to African problems” would place defense diplomacy at a vantage point to take over defence in Africa.