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Articles 1 - 9 of 9
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
The Economic Community Of West African States And The Responsibility To Protect, Emmanuel Aning, Samuel Atuobi
The Economic Community Of West African States And The Responsibility To Protect, Emmanuel Aning, Samuel Atuobi
Emmanuel Kwesi Aning
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was created in 1975 with the primary objective of member states jointly to ‘promote cooperation and integration, leading to the establishment of an economic union in West Africa in order to raise the living standards of its peoples, and to maintain and enhance economic stability’. However, since its creation, the organization has largely pursued security and political agendas due to the prevalence of political instability and security challenges in the West African sub-region. Since the 1960s, when most of its member states gained independence, West Africa has experienced several coups d’état and …
Addressing Emerging Security Threats In Post-Gaddafi Sahel And Ecowas Response To The Malian Crises, Emmanuel Aning, Frank Okyere, Mustapha Abdallah
Addressing Emerging Security Threats In Post-Gaddafi Sahel And Ecowas Response To The Malian Crises, Emmanuel Aning, Frank Okyere, Mustapha Abdallah
Emmanuel Kwesi Aning
This policy paper examines the broader impact of post-Gaddafi security challenges on West African states, with particular emphasis on the Sahelian regions. This will be juxtaposed against the old insecurities serving as long time precursors. As the first major unintended consequence of the Libyan crisis, we discuss the events leading to the Malian coup d’état and its implications on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Finally, the paper analyzes the options for international engagement, focusing on the UN, EU, AU and ECOWAS.
Identifying And Responding To Africa's Security Challenges, Emmanuel Aning
Identifying And Responding To Africa's Security Challenges, Emmanuel Aning
Emmanuel Kwesi Aning
This chapter discusses a broad range of new and emerging security challenges that affect and impact the survival of Africa's constituent states. It seeks to (a) understand the dynamics and mechanics of the narcotics trade and the manner in which it impacts the content, particularly West Africa, which is now known as the "coke coast"; (2) identify and analyze the threat of cyber crime; and (3) examine the strategies for coping and responding to these challenges within the broader framework of initiatives undertaken by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union.
Application Of And Responses To The Responsibility To Protect Norm At The Regional And Subregional Levels In Africa: Lessons For Implementation, Emmanuel Aning, Samuel Atuobi
Application Of And Responses To The Responsibility To Protect Norm At The Regional And Subregional Levels In Africa: Lessons For Implementation, Emmanuel Aning, Samuel Atuobi
Emmanuel Kwesi Aning
This paper contributes to discussion on moving the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) norm from concept to action by exploring how such shifts can be made from regional and subregional perspectives. We argue that recent events in Africa and the responses and actions of its major multilateral actor, the African Union (AU), and one of its regional economic communities, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), indicate the urgent the need for regional and subregional actors to lead in the implementation of this norm due to chronic instability that threatens populations in the African region. We further argue that implementing …
From 'Voluntary' To A 'Binding' Process: Towards The Securitisation Of Small Arms, Emmanuel Aning
From 'Voluntary' To A 'Binding' Process: Towards The Securitisation Of Small Arms, Emmanuel Aning
Emmanuel Kwesi Aning
This article analyses the issue of small arms and light weapons (SALW) proliferation in both Ghana and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Specifically, it assesses the extent to which both Ghana and ECOWAS have 'securitised' this particular issue through an initial 'voluntary' instrument first in 1998 and extended in 2001 until the signing in June 2006 of a legally and politically binding ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition and Other Related Materials. To do so, the article begins by setting out the scope and a brief history of the SALW problem in West …
Keeping The Peace In Africa: Challenges And Opportunities, Emmanuel Aning
Keeping The Peace In Africa: Challenges And Opportunities, Emmanuel Aning
Emmanuel Kwesi Aning
Focuses on the challenges and opportunities for peacekeeping efforts in Africa. Shift in the approach to peacekeeping and the desirability of such efforts; Structural weaknesses that may continue to engender conflicts in Africa; Significance of the establishment of the International Criminal Court.
Investing In Peace And Security In Africa: The Case Of Ecowas Emmanuel Kwesi Aning, Emmanuel Aning
Investing In Peace And Security In Africa: The Case Of Ecowas Emmanuel Kwesi Aning, Emmanuel Aning
Emmanuel Kwesi Aning
This paper argues that, by investing in good governance and democratisation—two factors fundamental to West African security—ECOWAS is also contributing to sub-regional peace and stability. An inclusive approach is needed to forge effective relationships between governance and security in West Africa. ECOWAS has designed a strategic framework that identifies priority areas for conflict management. At issue, though, is its capacity to confront and deal with issues that straddle security, peace, good governance, and democratisation. This paper analyses the dynamics of ECOWAS’s security-sector reforms. The perception that the security sector itself is still a major source of insecurity in West Africa …
Regulating Illicit Trade In Natural Resources: The Role Of Regional Actors In West Africa, Emmanuel Aning
Regulating Illicit Trade In Natural Resources: The Role Of Regional Actors In West Africa, Emmanuel Aning
Emmanuel Kwesi Aning
This article explores the multiple efforts that have been initiated by regional actors in West Africa, mainly ECOWAS, to regulate the illicit trade in natural resources in the context of armed conflicts. It then examines the behaviour of 'spoilers' who are able to circumvent the sanctions regime and governments' domestic regulation. The paper argues that the characteristics and multiple dynamics of the armed conflicts in West Africa have created specific opportunities for economic activities in a thriving parallel economy through the 'illicit' trade in natural resources.
Eliciting Compliance From Warlords: The Ecowas Experience In Liberia, 1990–1997, Emmanuel Aning
Eliciting Compliance From Warlords: The Ecowas Experience In Liberia, 1990–1997, Emmanuel Aning
Emmanuel Kwesi Aning
This article examines the strategies initiated by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to elicit compliance with its disarmament policies from belligerents in Liberia's 1989–96 civil conflict. I propose to tackle the task within a linked and holistic four‐fold approach. First, I situate ECOWAS's intervention in Liberia from 1990 to 1997 within the changing context of international perceptions of multilateral organisation involvement in civil wars. ECOWAS's intervention had different diplomatic phases. The first phase under the Standing Mediation Committee lasted from May 1990‐June 1991, The Committee of Five Process from June 1991‐August 1992, and the Committee of Nine …