CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS) is a regional economic community set up in 1975 for the
purpose of economic integration and the purpose of raising the standard
of living of its people.
From the foregoing, it is apparent that
the founders of ECOWAS never contemplated the nature of security
challenges that would confront the sub-region in the international
politics of the late 1980s and 1990s. Thus, the original treaty focused
on the issues of “Settlement of Disputes” which they envisaged could
arise from the interpretation of application of the Treaty and not as a
result of deadly Internal Conflicts. (Joseph 2014:108).
The realization of the impossibility of
achieving economic integration in an environment laden with security
challenges prompted the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government to sign the
Protocol on Non Aggression in 1979. To further state its readiness for
not just collective reliance, but also collective security, the ECOWAS
highest authority signed the protocol relating to Mutual Assistance in
Defence into Force in Freetown in May, 1981. Though the protocol was
more elaborate than the Protocol on Non-Aggression, it was legally and
logistically powerless in the face of serious internal conflicts. The
institutions provided for in this protocol were never established
(Khobe: 2004).
As a result of the Liberian crisis the
efforts made by the Protocol relating to Mutual Assistance in Defence
was rendered inadequate. Under the circumstance of the Liberian conflict
– the stability of the sub-region became threatened and its character
did not fall under the 1981 protocol. According to (Golwa in Joseph
2014:109).
As a matter of conjecture, one could
say that the community at the time of formation did not envisage the
nature of the threat and conflict which engulfed the sub-region.
Therefore priority was given more to issues of economic integration to
the detriment of peace building or conflict management.
ECOWAS was however forced to rise up to
the occasion to establish a Standing Mediation Committee in May, 1990.
It was under these auspices of the ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee
that ECOMOG was established.
The S.M.C. met in Banjul, Gambia and
agreed to send a military force named Economic Community of West African
States monitoring group. ECOMOG was empowered to restore law and order
and to create the necessary conditions for free and fair elections. It
was also given the mandate to extend its stay in Liberia if necessary,
until an elected government was installed. (Kabia 2011:4).
This research attempts to examine the
politics rationale and objective of ECOMOG operations in Liberia and
evaluates the performance and challenges that were faced by the
organization in resolving the Liberian conflict.
1.2 Statement of Problem
The Economic Community of West African
States is a sub-regional organization of fifteen West African countries
established in 1975 for the purpose of economic integration and
development in all fields of economic activity and raising the standards
of living of its people.
The 1975 ECOWAS treaty provided no
security role for the sub-regional organization. As a result of conflict
and political instability in several member-states, ECOWAS realized
that economic development cannot be achieved in the absence of peace and
stability and with time has evolved a mechanism for conflict prevention
and management.
Expanding its objective to include
security responsibilities, the organization is likely to have faced some
challenges that will have adverse effect on its operation as none of
the sixty five articles of the treaty alluded the duties of defence and
security on its establishment. Thus this research work will attempt to
give answers to the following question.
- What were the propelling factors that motivated the decision of ECOWAS to intervene in the Liberian conflict?
- Taking into consideration the original objective of ECOWAS is the
proper mechanism for addressing conflict situation in the West African
sub-region.
- What were the challenges faced by ECOWAS in managing the conflict in Liberia.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The objective of this work is as follows:
- To examine the reasons for the involvement of ECOWAS in the Liberian conflict through the ECOMOG mechanism.
- To investigate whether ECOWAS is the appropriate mechanism for conflict management in the West African sub-region.
- To examine the challenges faced by ECOWAS in managing the Liberian Conflict.
1.4 Research Questions
Was ECOMOG the appropriate tool for
engaging the conflict situation in Liberia? The research work will
attempt to give answer to the following question:
- What were the propelling factors that motivated the decision of ECOWAS to intervene in the Liberian conflict?
- Taking into consideration the original objective of ECOWAS is the
proper mechanism for addressing conflict situation in the West African
sub-region?
- What were the challenges faced by ECOWAS in managing the conflict in Liberia?
1.5 Theoretical Framework
For the purpose of this research work,
the structural conflict theory and human need theory is employed. The
management and resolution of conflict as one of the aims of ECOWAS, can
be effectively arrived at with the application of this theories
The Structural Conflict Theory
This theory has two main
sub-orientation. The first is the radical structural theory represented
by the Marxist dialectical school with exponent like Marx, Engels and
V.I. Lenin, etc. The second is the liberal structuralism represented by
Ross Scarborough and Johan Galtung (1990) on structural violence. The
main argument of the structural conflict theory is that conflict is
built into the particular ways societies are structured and organized.
The theory looks at social problems like political and economic
exclusion, injustice poverty, disease, exploitation inequity, etc. as
sources of conflict. Structuralism maintains that conflict occur as a
result of the exploitative and unjust nature of human societies,
domination of one class by another due to the structure and organization
of society. This explains the root causes of the Liberian Civil War,
the root causes of the Liberian Civil War are systematic inequity
between the ruling elite and the majority indigenous population tribal
allegiance and intertribal conflict, pervasive corruption were factors
that led to the collapse of the Liberian State.
The theory addresses the reaction of
individual to social change (Faleti, 2006). It operates on the basis
that conflict can be resolved by the elimination of structural defects
with policy reforms as stated by the liberal structuralist, this
explains the involvement of ECOWAS and its Ceasefire Monitoring Group as
a third party in the conflict to restore peace because at the height of
crisis the conflicting parties cannot reason to bring about policy
reforms. The Marxist sees the outbreak of revolution and civil war as a
means to end contradictions that is they believe that the contradictions
between warring parties will end in a revolution, civil war or some
form of violence leading to the overthrow of the exploitative system.
This explains the outbreaks of the Liberian Civil War.
The Human Needs Theory
This theory operates on the premise that
a precondition for the resolution of conflict is that fundamental human
needs be met. Its main assumption is that all human needs which they
seek to fulfill and that the denial and frustration of these needs by
other groups or individuals could affect them immediately or later
thereby leading to conflict (Rosati, et al 1990).
The human needs theorist over time has
identified some of these needs which cause conflict. Maslow in his
motivation and personally need identified physiological needs, safety
needs, belongingness and love, esteem and self actualization.
Burton (1979:72) lists response,
stimulation, security recognition, distributive justice meaning need to
appear rational and develop rationality, need for sense of control and
the need for role defence. Azar (1994) identified needs like security,
distinctive identity social recognition of identity and effective
participation in the process that shape such identities. Burton
identified a link between frustration which forces humans into acts of
aggression and the need on the part of such individuals to satisfy their
basic needs and because of this they are forced to react against the
factors groups and institutions that they see as being responsible for
threatening such needs.
Human needs for survival, protection,
affection, understanding, participation, creativity and identity that
are shared by all people are irrepressible and according to Burton, have
components/needs for recognition, identity, security, autonomy and
bonding with others) that are not easy to give up).
No matter, how much a political or
social system tries to frustrate or suppress these needs, it will either
flair or cause far more damage in the long run. Gurr (1970) believes
that the tension between deprivation and potential are main issues
addressed by the human needs theory because when important needs are not
sufficiently satisfied economic and political problems will grow.
Needs theorist agree to the fact that
frustrations of these needs hamper the actualization of the potentials
of groups subsequently leading to conflicts.
For ECOWAS to effectively resolve
conflict within its sphere of operation, the needs of the people have to
be met with appropriate satisfiers, those things that were deined them
in the first instance.
1.6 Research Methodology
A qualitative methodology was used in
the conduct of this research, qualitative research examines a problem
through information collected from several sources including primary and
secondary materials, which constitute the date important to the study.
The major source of information that
would be employed in the research is the library research survey which
consists of secondary source of data collection. This would involve
textbooks, journals and internet articles.
To conduct this study, a historical
approach would be the primary method employed. Historical, because the
study shall examine the fundamental factors that informed the ECOWAS.
ECOMOG operation in Liberia and also the challenges encountered by the
organization.
1.7 Significance of Study
The finding of this study is significant
in the sense that it highlights the importance of the external
intervention-intervention by a sub-regional organization.
It would provide an in-depth
understanding of the nature and consequences of the politics surround
ECOWAS and its intervention in the Liberia crisis.
1.8 Scope and Limitation of Study
The scope of this research work focuses
on the role of ECOWAS in resolving conflict in Liberia from 1990 – 1997.
This work will give direction to the evolution of ECOMOG operation in
Liberia, the challenges encountered by the organization, finally the
evaluation of ECOWAS-ECOMOG performances in Liberia.
In carrying out this research, the study
was initially faced with limited literatures and finance poses a
constraint in carrying out the research.
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