Navigating the risks of security force assistance

Episode 1 of the Warpod podcast, hosted by Saferworld, titled "Navigating the risks of security force assistance" was published on July 21, 2025 and runs 35 minutes.

July 21, 2025 ·35m · Warpod

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Summary

Training and equipping police, military, and border forces is a common part of international security policy. But how can this kind of support affect communities in conflict-affected countries? In this episode, we speak to Hamsatu Allamin, a peacebuilder from northeast Nigeria, and Major George Ashton of the British Army’s Royal Military Police, about the practice known as security force assistance (SFA). We explore the risks of SFA when it’s not carefully designed – and how this support might be used in ways that improve relationships between security actors and civilians.

Episode Description

Training and equipping police, military, and border forces is a common part of international security policy. But how can this kind of support affect communities in conflict-affected countries?

In this episode, we speak to Hamsatu Allamin, a peacebuilder from northeast Nigeria, and Major George Ashton of the British Army’s Royal Military Police, about the practice known as security force assistance (SFA). We explore the risks of SFA when it’s not carefully designed – and how this support might be used in ways that improve relationships between security actors and civilians.