In the countries of the Western Balkans, the security-intelligence system of each country developed in a different way. The systems were developed based on ethnic communities, by inheritance from the old system or by the creation of a completely new system. In the transition of this system, there were complications that contradict democratic principles. In addition to the ethnic tensions and armed conflicts that have been taking place in this area since the states gained independence, the states face challenges such as organized crime, corruption, human rights violations and various forms of abuse of power. This paper presents the historical context and political development of newly formed states with the aim of better understanding the establishment of security and intelligence systems. The studied countries are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia. The paper follows the development of the security-intelligence systems of the countries as well as the development of the democratic oversight of the security-intelligence system. The analysis of affairs provides a concrete insight into the cases that the countries have encountered, and the very goal of the work is to determine the contemporary challenges of democratic oversight of the security-intelligence system and how states respond to them, that is, how they should respond in view of the need for reform. The importance of this issue lies in the concept of security, which is based on the protection of the state and its citizens, and the fact that today's security challenges are getting stronger.