Formed in 2003, the African Security Sector Network (ASSN) has established itself as a reputable network of African security sector reform practitioners on the African continent and internationally. ASSN has a wealth of experience and leadership in promoting democratic Security Sector Governance (SSG) and Security Sector Reform (SSR), with a wide and diverse membership of recognised professionals and academics.

The ASSN exists to facilitate progress towards the achievement of effective and democratically governed security sectors across Africa. It pursues this mission by working to strengthen the capacities of African governments, national security institutions, parliaments, intergovernmental organisations and civil society groups to undertake and own SSR programmes. The organisation also strives to expand the concept of African SSR through sustained research, publication and training.

The ASSN has Regional nodes, based on the geopolitical and linguistic regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. In each Regional node, one/two member organisation(s) form the centrepiece of the ASSN’s regional activities. These regional nodes are

• East Africa: Security Research and Information Center (SRIC) based in Nairobi, Kenya (http://www.srickenya.org/ );
• Southern Africa: the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF) based in Cape Town, South Africa (http://apcof.org/)
• West Africa: Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Association (PRAWA) headquartered in Enugu State, Nigeria (http://www.prawa.org/) and the Fondation pour la Sécurité du Citoyen (FOSEC) based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (http://www.fosecburkina.org), Centre for Maritime Law and Security (CEMLAWS) based in Accra, Ghana.(https://www.cemlawsafrica.com/)