Conflict risk and development challenges in West Africa

The proximity of the Sahelian countries to West Africa sub region does not only trigger spillover effects of terrorism and arms proliferation but has helped to sustain the sub region’s nuances of diverse conflicts, ranging from inter-ethnic conflicts, inter-state conflicts, liberation conflicts, civil rights conflicts, annexationist conflicts, and political transition conflicts. These conflicts inadvertently spew up developmental challenges, of which forced migration and infrastructural destruction which negatively impacted on life expectancy and educational attainment, which is central to development. It was against this backdrop that this study employed Failed State Theory to examine conflict risk and development challenges in West Africa, drawing evidences from Burkina Faso and Mali. This study disintegrated development challenges into education attainment and life expectancy. The study engaged qualitative research design approach to elicit data with reliance on extant and related literature. Result that emanated from the study submitted that conflict risk in West Africa triggers forced displacement which negatively influence education attainment which is a major index for development. The study also established that conflict risk, as seen in West Africa, triggers food insecurity throwing the populace into decreasing life expectancy which is also central to development. The study therefore recommends that AU, ECOWAS, and other regional blocs, should provide a platform for learning outside the traditional classroom arrangement by adopting the UNICEF’s education radio approach to assist education attainment. The study also recommends that enforcing good governance protocols across the sub region, will greatly increase life expectancy as such will reduce death by violence, hunger, and other preventable health conditions.