West Africa is facing numerous challenges, including violence, political instability, limited economic opportunities, and the worsening impact of climate change. With over 20,000 conflict fatalities in 2022 alone, violence in the region, particularly in the Sahel region, is at unprecedented levels. Illicit economies also contribute to sustaining instability in West Africa.
The concept of human security, which focuses on the well-being of individuals, has gained prominence among policymakers in the region. The ECOWAS Country Risk and Vulnerability Assessments (CRVAs) highlight the importance of understanding different threats that affect people’s lives, including conflict, health, food, environment, and social, political, or economic factors.
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To address these challenges effectively, comprehensive and timely data on existing and future threats is crucial. The ECOWAS Commission, through the Early Warning Directorate and the ENACT Organized Crime Index, aims to provide this data. The 2021 ENACT Organized Crime Index revealed that West Africa has the second-highest level of criminality on the African continent, with human trafficking, drugs, and the illicit trade in non-renewable resources being prevalent criminal markets.
Despite the high levels of criminal activity, West Africa also demonstrated high levels of resilience, surpassing Southern Africa in the 2023 Global Organized Crime Index. The index emphasized the region’s legislative frameworks, civil society actors, and international collaboration as relative strengths. However, overall resilience levels, both within the region and globally, remain weak.
The index’s findings highlight the negative correlation between criminality and peacefulness, emphasizing the need to address illicit economies that pose a threat to security and stability. The Organized Crime Resilience Framework (OCRF) aims to examine major organized crime threats in West Africa and identify sources of resilience.
The OCRF report begins by analyzing the organized crime and security landscape in the region, identifying key risks and vulnerabilities. It then explores existing sources of resilience, including community policing, legislative frameworks, and state institutions. Three deep dives examine drug policy reform in Ghana, the proliferation of self-defense and vigilante groups, and the complex relationship between climate change and criminal activity.
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The OCRF’s objective is to provide targeted programming and support packages to member states in collaboration with ECOWAS. The deep dives offer important lessons for all West African states to develop effective responses to organized crime in the region. By addressing these issues, West Africa can work towards a more secure and resilient future.
