Brigadier General Saleh Bala (Rtd) is the Chief Executive Officer of White Ink Consult, a private defence and security research, strategic communications and training consultancy firm based in Abuja, Nigeria and founder of the White Ink Institute for Strategy Education and Research (WISER), Abuja, Nigeria, an institute focusing on capacity building at executive and middle cadre levels on security governance strategy and national security policy. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Literature, from the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria (1982) and a master’s degree in International Peace Studies, from the University for Peace, San Jose, Costa Rica (2006) and another Masters in National Security Strategy, from the National Defense University, National War College, Washington DC (2009). He is a Distinguished Honour Graduate of the US Special Forces Detachment Officers Qualification Course (1991), John F Kennedy, United States Special Warfare Centre, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and an alumnus of the International Institute of Humanitarian Law, Sanremo, Italy, International Refugee Law Course (2010) and also a member of the institute’s Training Advisory Group. Bala is a resource associate of the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS), National Defense University, Washington DC and the Africa Institute for Strategic and Security Studies, Alexandria, Virginia, USA. Has been working extensively with the ACSS in the areas of sensitization and capacity development for formulation of National Security Strategies for African nations, as well as for development of National Preventing/Counter Violent Strategies across Africa.

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Nigeria: Building Citizen-Centric Security in the Middle of Conflict

Nigeria's security challenges require citizen-centric solutions to foster stability and economic development. Addressing the root causes of violence and promoting good governance are key to building trust between the people and security institutions.

Report by Saleh Bala and Mvemba Phezo Dizolele — March 11, 2025

Experts React: The Challenges and Opportunities for the Trump Administration in Africa

On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump will begin his second term as U.S. president. CSIS Africa Program experts highlight opportunities to strengthen U.S.-Africa relations through green industrialization, strategic partnerships, good governance, and country-focused engagement.

Commentary by Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, Laird Treiber, Rafiq Raji, Jon Temin, Saleh Bala, Cameron Hudson, Emilia Columbo, Ryan Cummings, and Will Brown — January 13, 2025