WEST AFRICA’S REGIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY- ECOMOG

Introduction
African continent has the most cases of conflicts and wars. West Africa however is the region in the continent that shares the biggest portion of the problems. Way back from the 90s there has been enormous number of deaths as a result of the conflict and violence in the region. Many people have also been displaced. All these consequences of conflict and violence have made the region and their regional building block, Economic community of west Africa-ECOWAS, become connected with the words such as insecurity, violence and destruction instead of collaboration and progress as defined in the key mission of ECOWAS.
Despite of numerous problems in the West African region, ECOWAS has built some mechanisms that could be instrumental in realizing the goal of peace and security in the region. Whereas upholding an economic development and cooperation as a focal point in the region.
Two decades ago, the West African community accounted for a military force that had a responsibility of resolving conflicts amongst states inside ECOWAS. The institutionalization of ECOMOG, the ECOWAS cease fire monitoring group.
The launch of ECOMOG made a record because at the time of its establishment, no any other parallel military force in Africa was there. It is not easy to say that those who established ECOWAS way back in 1977 had a prediction in the creation of ECOMOG, not to mention the role it has played in containing the political instability amongst its member states. ECOMOG actively participated in containing the Liberian war during the military take over.
Sierra Leone is another case example of ECOMOG’s active participation, where class struggle, high level corruption and misuse of natural resources changed into one of the most atrocious conflicts in the world. From 1991-2001, civilians were killed, raped, kidnapped, children were also recruited as child soldiers and millions were displaced.
In retrospect, undoubtedly ECOMOG actively played a bigger part in reinstating peace and security in both Liberia and Sierra Leone. It is also credible to say that ECOWAS and its military sister have advanced with the time.
During the wake of multipartism by most of ECOWAS member states; the regional body created more emphasis on negotiations and diplomacy as a first approach rather than military interventions. In cases of political coup or misuse of the constitution by one leader, the first reaction is through diplomatic intervention by way of negotiations or economic sanctions. These methods however give a first hand, in tackling the conflict before it escalates fully. This however does not imply that ECOMOG has no future role in military interventions.