Mapping criminal governance and organised crime in Dakar and Cape Town

The results of a three-year study of criminal enterprises in Dakar and Cape Town will be presented at this seminar.

Between 2011 and 2014, the Institute for Security Studies conducted an in-depth study to better understand the growing phenomenon of criminal governance and organised crime in two African cities: Dakar and Cape Town.

The study’s premise is that in an increasingly urbanising and globalising world, the division of functions between state and non-state actors is becoming less distinct. Non-state actors, including criminal gangs, have gradually established themselves as parallel authorities in many cities through coercion as well as by providing services and supporting livelihoods. These criminal structures provide distinct forms of authority that flourish when governance is weak or ineffective, but at the same time still depend on the legitimacy of the state.

To examine these dynamics, the ISS mapped criminal governance and developed case studies of various criminal enterprises in Dakar and Cape Town. This seminar will share the key findings of this research project, with a focus on organised crime in Dakar. 

This seminar will include presentations in English and French, with simultaneous translation.

Publications in French, on the findings from Dakar, will be available at the seminar.

Speakers:

  • Deogratias Barakamfitiye, office head, ISS Dakar
  • Charles Goredema, research consultant, ISS
  • Khalil Goga, researcher, Transnational Threats and International Crime division, ISS Pretoria
  • Mamoudou Ndiaye, consultant
  • Ramata Thioune, Senior Programme Officer, IDRC
Development partners
This event is made possible with support from the International Development Research Centre. The ISS is grateful for support from the following members of the ISS Partnership Forum: the governments of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the USA.
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