Economic Community of West African States on the Ground: Comparing Peacekeeping in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, and Côte D’Ivoire

This article provides a comparative analysis of two decades of Economic Community of West African States initiated peacekeeping missions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, and Côte d’Ivoire as a basis for understanding Africa’s most advanced regional peace and security mechanism. It identifies the issues and debates around ECOWAS Cease-fire Monitoring Group peacekeeping—its merits, shortcomings and challenges, and the evolution of the Economic Community of West African States Peace and Security Framework. In conclusion, it draws attention to the gaps between rhetoric and reality, as a step toward grappling with the prospects for a sustainable people-rooted Economic Community of West African States peace and security agenda for West Africa.