THE ROLE OF THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (ECOWAS) IN THE LIBERIAN CIVIL WAR: A CASE STUDY OF THE ECOWAS MONITORING GROUP (ECOMOG)

This study examined the role of the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) in the Liberian civil war. This section discusses the causes of the war, ECOMOG intervention, difficulties in ECOMOG operations, and the impact it has on the country. There have been many works on ECOWAS, ECOMOG, and Liberia, but none has really fully focused on why ECOWAS, which was set up for economic integration in West Africa, would involve itself in the political affairs of its member state, as this work did. This study employed a qualitative research methodology and a historical/documentary research design. In-depth oral interviews were conducted to gather primary and empirical data. In addition, both published and unpublished materials were used. Data analysis involved examining the primary and secondary data collected using within-methods triangulation techniques. The primary and secondary data for this study were analyzed using content analyses. The objectives of this study were to examine the reasons for the intervention of ECOMOG in Liberia and to assess ECOMOG peace operations in Liberia. However, to satisfy these objectives, the questions were what were the reasons for ECOMOG intervention in Liberia and has it prevented the re-emergence of conflict in the area. This study has evaluated the effectiveness of ECOWAS in regional peace and security issues, there are key issues worthy of consideration and they are: the geopolitics of West Africa and its constraints on the development and practice of common foreign and security policies; the leadership role of Nigeria; the role and contribution of extra-regional actors such as the former colonial powers and the UN; and the quality of leadership of both ECOWAS and ECOMOG