Publication

This paper considers the role of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in security sector governance as a basis for setting up a common security sector reform (SSR) agenda. The paper provides an overview of the security environment in West Africa and outlines the basic elements of the ECOWAS peace and security architecture, addresses the rationale for a common ECOWAS SSR concept and identifies related opportunities and challenges. The paper traces developments within ECOWAS which can be said to form the basic elements of an emerging common understanding of SSR and concludes with relevant policy recommendations.