Mercenaries

[Centurion1]

As any other respectable nation does

Most western nations use "mercenaries"

Pick any coup in africa, and there's a 99% chance that there were mercs involved. Mercs don't do "security jobs" in africa. They're hired to kill. Either by protecting those companies looking to exploit natural resources, a would-be dictator looking to overthrow an opponent or a dictator needing someone to kill his opponents, mercs will almost certainly be involved.

99% of all coups in africa are caused by "evil" mercenaries, i think not. you are just playing on the stereotype of a mercenary. a man i know. who works for blackwater was just doing a job in Kenya. Hear about any coups there? He was doing a training job for the Kenyan secret service. The vast majority these days are well-trained professionals that handle security.

As to the use of private contractors being a waste of money, i do not think so.