ABSTRACT This article analyses the 2015 intervention of Specialized Tasks, Training, Equipment and Protection (STTEP International Ltd), a South African private military company (PMC), against Boko Haram, the Islamic terrorist group in Nigeria. The origins of PMCs are highlighted before an in-depth analysis of the mercenary intervention against Boko Haram is performed, with an eye on previous major PMC interventions in sub-Saharan Africa. On the one hand, the paper emphasises the unprecedented use of PMCs against Islamic extremist groups but on the other reveals that PMC interventions have not changed much. Finally, the article assesses STTEP’s intervention in light of the current debate on private security involving those who advocate its use and regulation and those who question the legitimacy of PMCs as a tool of conflict resolution.

中文翻译：

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恐怖分子和雇佣兵：对抗尼日利亚博科圣地的私人战士

摘要 本文分析了 2015 年南非私营军事公司 (PMC) 特种任务、培训、设备和保护公司 (STTEP International Ltd) 对尼日利亚伊斯兰恐怖组织博科圣地的干预。在深入分析针对博科圣地的雇佣军干预之前，重点介绍了 PMC 的起源，并着眼于以前在撒哈拉以南非洲的主要 PMC 干预行动。一方面，该论文强调了 PMC 对伊斯兰极端主义团体的前所未有的使用，但另一方面表明 PMC 的干预并没有太大变化。最后，本文根据当前关于私人安全的辩论评估 STTEP 的干预，这些辩论涉及提倡使用和监管的人以及质疑 PMC 作为解决冲突工具的合法性的人。