fundamental discussions on the concept of security and an analysis of the security threats posed to Mali and culminated in the development of sophisticated institutional structures and processes to respond to them, is presented and evaluated in this book. The program's focus on the inclusion of various actors of state and society in the joint governance of peace and security resonates with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung's(FES) conviction that only a democratically governed and controlled security sector is able to effectively respond to actual threats to citizens' security. No one would be better placed to share the experiences with this Malian approach than Dr. Zeïni Moulaye and Mahamadou Niakaté, who not only bring to bear their tremendous expertise and rich professional experience, but in their current capacities are also at the very heart of the process. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the two authors for their excellent work and their continued trustful partnership. The book at hand reminds us about the shared responsibility for peace and security in the region and will surely be of use to all those working towards democratic security sector governance in West Africa. Annette Lohmann Resident Representative FES Mali Sebastian Sperling Coordinator FES Regional Office Abuja vii