Towards an independent Kosovo Security Force!? A research to the promotion of local ownership in SSR activities in support of defence reform by KFOR towards a sustainable security sector in Kosovo
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2013-07
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en
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Abstract
Kosovo unilaterally declared independence in 2008 and after this declaration the Kosovo
Security Force (KSF) was established among other things. Since then the KSF wants to
become an independent defence force, but is still under supervision of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organisation (NATO) and is not yet allowed to get an increased mandate. From
1999 onwards, the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) has been leading a peace support
operation in Kosovo and has not completely transferred authorities to local actors yet.
In (post-)conflict environments, external organisations and donors are often seen as
essential in achieving sufficient levels of peace and stability through statebuilding
programmes. One of these statebuilding initiatives is reforming the security sector and
defence reform forms an important part of that. The general objective of Security Sector
Reform (SSR) is to reform a dysfunctional security sector into a functional one ensuring
security and justice which contributes to further statebuilding initiatives. In order for SSR
programmes to be sustainable, it is critical to involve local actors in processes of reform
as early as possible. The principle of local ownership has been viewed increasingly as a
precondition for effective SSR.
The objective of this research is to provide insight into the relevance of promoting local
ownership in SSR activities in support of defence reform in relation to an independent
KSF in Kosovo and to make recommendations to facilitate KFOR‟s decision-making
processes in handing over responsibilities to the KSF by analysing the level of local
ownership in KFOR‟s defence reform activities in the period 2008 until 2013.
Defence reform initiatives should focus on creating sufficient levels of military power
which should then be locally owned. Important defence reform activities that have been
identified for this research are doctrine development and strategy, command structure,
defence force formation and military education and training. Local ownership has to be
promoted through the entire SSR process, which includes the initiation, planning,
implementation and evaluation phase. A defence force that eventually is able to
formulate strategies and translate this into doctrines, able to operate in a transparent
command structure and has its own executive powers, is responsible for its formation by
selecting personnel and equipment and responsible for training its forces, can be
considered to be independent.
The KSF has been developing towards a more professional force since it was established
and has received increased capabilities during the SSR process. However, the KSF has
the ambition to become a defence force or to at least have an increased mandate which
it is not yet allowed to. Considering the promotion of local ownership in KFOR‟s defence
reform activities towards the KSF, it can be concluded that there has been promotion of
local ownership by KFOR in the planning, implementation and evaluation phases in most
of the defence reform activities. However, the promotion of local ownership in the
initiation phase for each activity has been limited. This makes the KSF still a security
force under supervision of KFOR and not yet an independent and sustainable KSF.
KFOR‟s promotion of local ownership towards the KSF is affected by political and military
aspects. The main reasons for the limited promotion of local ownership are political
limitations, NATO restrictions, limited authority of Kosovo‟s government, Serbia‟s and
Kosovo‟s dialogue about normalising relations, the KSF‟s continuing development as a
young organisation and the limited budget of the Ministry of KSF making it dependent on
external help. The main reasons for the significant promotion of local ownership are
military and political impulses. Besides the political limitations, KFOR has been promoting
local ownership in creating an independent security force and there is a lot of bilateral
involvement of NATO members in supporting the KSF.
Promoting local ownership towards the KSF is complex, because of the political and
military aspects that affect KFOR. Recommendations that can be made to proceed in
transferring authorities by KFOR to the KSF are reviewing KSF‟s mandate, declare the
KSF to be fully operational capable (FOC) and decide how to continue and consider the
accession of Kosovo to NATO through the Partnership for Peace programme. Considering
these recommendations could allow KFOR to hand over responsibilities to the KSF.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen