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Full-Text Articles in Peace and Conflict Studies

Assessing The Role Of The African Union In Preventing And Combating Terrorism In Africa, Martin Ewi, Emmanuel Aning Dec 2005

Assessing The Role Of The African Union In Preventing And Combating Terrorism In Africa, Martin Ewi, Emmanuel Aning

Emmanuel Kwesi Aning

The period after 9/11 can be characterised as the terrorism moment in world history. Every actor in international relations—the state, regional, continental and international as well as civil society organisations—has been mobilised to combat what, apparently has been conceived as a common security threat to humanity. The transformation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) into the African Union (AU) was a divine coincidence at a time when multilateralism and international cooperation were being challenged by the threat of terrorism. In the post-9/11 period, the main concern of the Union has been to reinforce and implement existing counter-terrorism instruments adopted …


The Anatomy Of Ghana's Secret Arms Industry, Emmanuel Kwesi Aning Apr 2005

The Anatomy Of Ghana's Secret Arms Industry, Emmanuel Kwesi Aning

Emmanuel Kwesi Aning

Although craft small arms production is present throughout West Africa, Ghana’s long-standing and socially embedded gun-making tradition make it a country of particular concern. Guns ‘made in Ghana’ are now known regionally for their competitive prices, their effectiveness, and their accessibility—thus raising concerns that they might one day represent a significant source of weaponry for armed groups. Indeed, some local blacksmiths now possess the requisite know-how to copy imported AK-47 assault rifles This chapter documents the extent, nature, and effects of Ghanaian craft small arms production, and discusses existing and potential responses. It is divided into three main sections. The …


The Challenge Of Civil Wars To Multilateral Interventions – Un, Ecowas, And Complex Political Emergencies In West Africa: A Critical Analysis, Emmanuel Aning Dec 2004

The Challenge Of Civil Wars To Multilateral Interventions – Un, Ecowas, And Complex Political Emergencies In West Africa: A Critical Analysis, Emmanuel Aning

Emmanuel Kwesi Aning

Politically and economically weak states are often vulnerable to political disasters which pose considerable challenges to multilateral interveners. During such disasters, the infrastructure of a country can be paralysed and in the emerging chaos, forces of hostile opposition might mobilise in order to take over the government, or people might loose faith in government altogether. This article seeks to analyse the dynamics of such situations by using Liberia and Sierra Leone's complex political emergencies (CPEs) as empirical studies. Here, I analyse the impact of these two CPEs on the collaborative intervention schemes initiated by the Economic Community of West African …


Keeping The Peace In Africa: Challenges And Opportunities, Emmanuel Aning Dec 2004

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 Nov 2004

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 …


From Youth Rebellion To Child Abduction: The Anatomy Of Recruitment In Sierra Leone, Emmanuel Aning, Angela Mcintyre Mar 2004

From Youth Rebellion To Child Abduction: The Anatomy Of Recruitment In Sierra Leone, Emmanuel Aning, Angela Mcintyre

Emmanuel Kwesi Aning

Using a case study of Sierra Leone, this chapter aims to bring attention to the importance of youth as a constituency with a substantial stake in national and regional stability in Africa. We have attempted this by first giving a background to the conflict, followed by a discussion of the nature of youth recruitment and participation in the conflict, followed by a look at some influential perspectives on the issue of child and youth participation in violence, and the influences they have had on policy making. We conclude with the idea that youth are of central concern to both national …


African Commitments To Conflict Prevention And Peacemaking: A Review Of Eight Nepad Countries, Emmanuel Aning, Prosper Addo, Emma Birikorang, Emmanuel Sowatey Dec 2003

African Commitments To Conflict Prevention And Peacemaking: A Review Of Eight Nepad Countries, Emmanuel Aning, Prosper Addo, Emma Birikorang, Emmanuel Sowatey

Emmanuel Kwesi Aning

The African Human Security Initiative (AHSI) is a network of seven African non-governmental research organisations that have come together to measure the performance of key African governments in promoting human security. The project is inspired by a wish to contribute to the ambitions of the New Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). Whereas the APRM process has defined a comprehensive set of objectives, standards, criteria and indicators that cover four broad areas, AHSI only engages with one of the four, namely issues of political governance in so far as these relate to human …


Politics, War, And Youth Culture In Sierra Leone: An Alternative Interpretation, Angela Mcintyre, Emmanuel Aning, Prosper Addo Dec 2001

Politics, War, And Youth Culture In Sierra Leone: An Alternative Interpretation, Angela Mcintyre, Emmanuel Aning, Prosper Addo

Emmanuel Kwesi Aning

Understanding the nature of armed conflict in Africa requires more than a political and military analysis of forms of warfare such as the employment of children as fighters. Children are seldom only instruments for other causes but can actively support their own agenda through the choices they make. Problems of governance, resource use and social organisation also need to be considered. There are often no clear lines between civilians and militaries and a simplistic ‘oppressor vs victim’ dichotomy is of limited use. The political character of youths can be better understood by considering the factors that shape their consciousness, as …


Eliciting Compliance From Warlords: The Ecowas Experience In Liberia, 1990–1997, Emmanuel Aning Dec 1998

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 …