As Africa strives to unlock its immense economic potential, one critical barrier continues to undermine growth across the continent: insecurity. While much focus is rightly placed on infrastructure, financial inclusion, and industrialisation, the persistent challenges of crime, terrorism, insurgency, cybercrime, kidnapping, and political instability erode investor confidence, disrupt livelihoods, and impede GDP growth. No nation can genuinely prosper without peace. For Africa to achieve sustainable development, addressing crime and insecurity must be treated as a security imperative and a core economic strategy.
“A secure environment encourages local entrepreneurship, attracts foreign direct investment (FDI), supports infrastructure development, and enables regional trade.”
The economic toll of insecurity
Insecurity comes with a high economic cost. It destroys physical assets, increases business costs, disrupts supply chains, and displaces populations. It diverts critical public resources from education, health, and infrastructure to emergency security responses and humanitarian aid.
According to the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies, conflict and violence cost African economies over $100 billion annually. Countries like Nigeria, Somalia, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic have seen valuable economic zones destabilised by insurgent groups, leading to reduced agricultural productivity, closed manufacturing hubs, halted tourism, and capital flight.
In addition, multinational companies are often hesitant to invest in volatile environments, while local businesses suffer from shrinking markets and declining consumer confidence. This environment severely limits job creation and tax revenue generation, both essential for GDP growth.
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Insecurity and its impact on key sectors
1. Agriculture: In regions plagued by conflict, farmers abandon their lands, food supply chains break down, and food insecurity rises. This hampers one of Africa’s most critical contributors to GDP.
2. Tourism: Countries with rich cultural heritage and natural beauty struggle to attract tourists when travel advisories warn of violence and unrest. The tourism industry, which could be a key driver of job creation and GDP, remains underutilised.
3. Manufacturing and industry: Factories cannot operate efficiently in insecure regions, especially where energy infrastructure or transport corridors are routinely attacked or sabotaged.
4. Education and human capital development: Insecurity disrupts schooling, displaced communities, and robs the continent of its most vital asset—its young and dynamic population.
Why peace is profitable: Security as an economic enabler
Security is the foundation on which economies are built. Investors look for stability, predictability, and risk mitigation. A secure environment encourages local entrepreneurship, attracts foreign direct investment (FDI), supports infrastructure development, and enables regional trade.
Countries that have invested in peace-building, conflict prevention, and community-based security frameworks have reaped significant economic dividends. Rwanda’s transformation into one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies was underpinned by decades of strategic security investment. Ghana’s relative political stability has helped it attract international capital and build a resilient economy.
Security is, therefore, not a “soft” issue—it is complex economics.
Key strategies to combat crime and insecurity for growth
1. Strengthen institutions and rule of law: Effective policing, fair justice systems, and anti-corruption frameworks are essential to address the root causes of insecurity and build public trust.
2. Invest in intelligence and technology: Modern security threats require modern responses. Africa must adopt intelligent surveillance, data-driven policing, and cybersecurity to stay ahead of emerging threats.
3. Tackle youth unemployment: Idle, frustrated youth are often easy recruits for criminal and extremist groups. Economic empowerment and skills development are powerful deterrents to insecurity.
4. Enhance regional cooperation: Insecurity often spills across borders. Collaborative frameworks such as the African Union’s Peace and Security Council and ECOWAS’ interventions must be strengthened.
5. Public-Private partnerships in security: Businesses can play a role in community safety, infrastructure security, and intelligence sharing, ensuring that security becomes a shared national agenda.
6. Address root causes: Poverty, inequality, marginalisation, and weak governance fuel conflict. Long-term peace requires inclusive development that leaves no community behind.
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A call to action: Peace for prosperity
For Africa to accelerate its GDP growth, peace and security must be at the heart of economic planning. Governments, business leaders, civil society, and regional organisations must adopt a unified approach that links security efforts with development goals.
We must reject the false dichotomy between growth and governance or prosperity and peace. In truth, they are inseparable. Sustainable economic growth demands secure communities, thriving enterprises, and a confident, protected citizenry.
Conclusion
Addressing crime and insecurity is not merely about protecting lives—it is about preserving livelihoods, enabling growth, and shaping a prosperous future for the continent. As Africa charts its course through the 21st century, the pathway to GDP growth must be paved with the stones of peace, justice, and security.
When security is assured, entrepreneurship flourishes, industries grow, and nations thrive.
Prof. Lere Baale is a leadership strategist and transformation expert who advocates for sustainable development across Africa’s public and private sectors. He is the CEO of Business School Netherlands Nigeria and a thought leader in systems innovation and policy design.
