Abstract:

What are the causal factors that led to ECOWAS’s failure in its conflict resolution role in Liberia’s civil war during the 1990’s? The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional organization established in early 1975. Although it was established with the aim of an economic development mission, but since 1990 it included conflict resolution agenda by creating The Economic Community of West African States Cease-fire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG). In 1991, a year after its creation, ECOMOG intervened in Liberia to restore peace and security. It is assisted in its Liberian conflict resolution mission by other international organizations such as the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU). So at the international level, the UN Security Council supported ECOWAS in Liberia with 386 observers and the AU played the role of facilitator for the organization of the presidential elections in 1997. At the regional level, ECOWAS has a lack of common interest and identity because between its French-speaking and English-speaking member countries, there is a difference of opinion when making decisions for its intervention in one of its member countries at war. Finally, at the domestic level, the lack of experience of ECOWAS leaders in the field of conflict resolution and its structural failures have not facilitated the task of ECOWAS in Liberia. This article consists of three different parts that include, Analysis of the role of international organizations, the problem of common interest and identity and the lack of experience of ECOWAS leaders in the field of conflict resolution and structural failures of the ECOWAS.

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