Around the world, the relationship between citizens and security forces has increasingly come under strain, often marked by tragic episodes of police brutality resulting in loss of life. In 2024, Mapping Police Violence documented over 1,260 people killed by police, marking the highest number of police-related killings in a decade. Among U.S. states, New Mexico recorded the highest rate of such incidents, continuing a troubling trend of consistently elevated police violence over the past ten years. Despite the scale of these fatalities, accountability remains scarce: officers were charged in only nine cases, representing less than one percent of all killings by police. Historically, fewer than three per cent of police killings lead to criminal charges against officers, highlighting a persistent gap in the justice system.
Interestingly, the data reveals that officers are disproportionately prosecuted by Black prosecutors, particularly Black women. Although Black women constitute only about one per cent of elected prosecutors nationwide, they accounted for eight per cent of those who charged officers in police killing cases, eleven per cent of those who secured convictions, and sixteen per cent of prosecutors who brought charges in two or more deadly force incidents between 2013 and 2024. This disparity suggests that prosecutors from marginalised backgrounds may be more willing to hold law enforcement accountable for acts of lethal force.
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In the United States alone, the Washington Post’s Fatal Force database reports that over 1,000 people were killed by police every year, continuing a pattern of systemic violence that has sparked national and international protests. Similarly, South America has not been immune; Brazil recorded over 6,393 deaths, at an average rate of 18 deaths per day due to police interventions in 2023, according to Statista, making it one of the deadliest countries in terms of police violence globally.
This pattern of mistrust and confrontation is echoed in various parts of the world, with Europe and Asia grappling with their own challenges related to security forces’ use of force. However, in Africa, while police brutality also manifests with severe consequences, the context is uniquely shaped by a colonial legacy, governance challenges, and socio-economic complexities that have compounded the trust deficit between citizens and law enforcement agencies.
Africa faces a paradox in security management. On one hand, escalating insecurity, terrorism, organised crime, and civil unrest demand an effective, robust police presence. On the other hand, frequent reports of police abuse, unlawful killings, and corruption have alienated the public. Between 2018 and 2023, thousands of African citizens have lost their lives in clashes involving security forces, with countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Ethiopia experiencing some of the highest rates of police-related deaths.
In Nigeria, for example, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) 2021 report highlights that over 13,241 people were killed since 2011 in incidents involving the police and military. South Africa, despite having one of the most sophisticated police systems on the continent, recorded over 191 deaths in police custody or during police operations in 2024 alone, according to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). In Kenya, security operations against political protesters and terror suspects have resulted in hundreds of deaths, causing widespread condemnation and deepening mistrust.
What Is Community Policing?
Community policing offers a beacon of hope amid these tensions, embodying a philosophy that envisions police as partners and guardians of communities rather than distant enforcers. It hinges on mutual respect, cooperation, and shared responsibility to maintain peace and security. This approach calls for police to work closely with community leaders, civil society, and citizens to address local issues proactively.
Across Africa, various initiatives are underway to implement community policing with the goal of restoring trust and improving security outcomes. Ghana’s Community Policing initiative, launched in 2019, has involved training local volunteers to act as liaisons between the police and the public. Rwanda’s National Police has made significant strides by integrating community feedback mechanisms into its operations, resulting in increased public confidence.
Repairing Trust One Shard at a Time
Trust, once broken, is like a shattered mirror, difficult to restore to its original clarity. The African continent’s efforts at community policing represent the painstaking process of picking up each shard and reconstructing a reflection of cooperation and peace.
In Nigeria, following the global spotlight on police abuses during the #EndSARS protests, the government initiated reforms aimed at institutionalising community policing. The National Community Policing Framework was approved in 2021 to decentralise policing and empower local security committees. However, implementation has been uneven, hindered by political will, funding constraints, and scepticism from communities wary of reform promises.
Similarly, in Kenya, the Community Policing Unit (CPU) has focused on building trust by involving local councils and traditional elders in conflict resolution. Despite some success in curbing election-related violence in 2022, reports by Human Rights Watch reveal persistent issues with accountability and human rights abuses within the CPU ranks, underscoring the need for deeper reforms and transparent oversight.
Towards a New Dawn
The road ahead for Africa’s community policing requires a multifaceted approach. Transparency and accountability mechanisms must be strengthened. Independent civilian oversight bodies, such as South Africa’s IPID and Kenya’s Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), play crucial roles but often face resource and political constraints that limit their effectiveness. Enhancing their capacity and independence is vital.
Furthermore, comprehensive police training programmes that emphasise human rights, cultural sensitivity, and non-violent conflict resolution can recalibrate police behaviour. The African Union’s African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) offers a platform for sharing best practices and harmonising standards across member states.
Technology can also be a powerful ally. Mobile platforms enabling citizens to report police misconduct anonymously have gained traction in countries like South Africa and Ghana, empowering communities and promoting accountability.
Community involvement should extend beyond policing to include economic empowerment and social development programmes. A populace burdened by poverty and unemployment is more vulnerable to insecurity and may view the police as adversaries rather than protectors.
Reweaving the Social Contract
Restoring trust between citizens and security forces in Africa is not merely a policing challenge; it is a fundamental process of rebuilding the social contract that underpins peaceful societies. The data tells a story of tension and tragedy but also one of hope through reform and community engagement. While progress remains uneven, the growing embrace of community policing across the continent signals a collective acknowledgement that security must be a shared responsibility.
For Africa to truly turn the page on police brutality and insecurity, governments, civil society, and communities must commit to sustained dialogue, transparency, and innovation. Only then can the mirror of trust be mended to reflect a society where security forces are seen not as agents of fear but as guardians of peace.
