Peace, Security and the Millennium Development Goals in West Africa

In: Disarmament forum: the new security debate = Forum du désarmement, Heft 4

Abstract

Experience shows that it is hard for some poor countries to attain the Millennium Development Goals without addressing the challenges of security and governance. The nexus between armed conflict, fragile states, and the lack of progress on the MDGs is an emerging regional trend in West Africa. At least half the states in the subregion are either in post-conflict recovery or greatly weakened by creeping or endemic crisis situations. This article discusses the challenges faced by the MDGs via the impact of small arms and light weapons proliferation and subsequent regional security programs and it looks at the new phase in efforts to address regional insecurity in order to promote development. Adapted from the source document.