The Impact Of Regional And International Peacekeeping Operations On Intra-State Conflict: A Comparative Analysis Of Liberia And Sierraleone

ABSTRACT

This research studied the impact of regional and international

peacekeeping operations on intra-state conflict. It especially

studied the Economic Community of West African States

(ECOWAS) and the United Nations in the resolution of the

Liberian conflict of 1989-2003, and the Sierra Leonean conflict

of 1991-1999.

The research is carried out using the Case Study Design which

involves the detailed examination of a single phenomenon at a

time. Case studies thus enable a comprehensive

understanding of the phenomenon under study. In this case,

Liberia and Sierra Leone are used as the case studies.

The UN has generally found it convenient to avoid getting

involved in African conflicts. Most times, the world body has

hidden under the pretext that African conflicts are within and

not between states, to stay out. This could be seen in the case

of Liberia where although war broke out in 1989, it was only

in 1992 that the Security Council became involved by

imposing an embargo on all deliveries of weapons and

equipment to the parties in the Liberian conflict except

ECOMOG. Even then, it was in 1993 that UN formally

established an Observer Mission. In the case of Sierra Leone, it

was only in 1997 that the UN got involved by placing an

embargo on the sale or supply of petroleum products and

arms and military equipment to the country, even though war

broke out in 1991.

ECOMOG, a brainchild of ECOWAS has become a model in

peace enforcement, peacekeeping, peace building, conflict

resolution and conflict management as demonstrated in

Liberia and Sierra Leone.

ECOWAS in its efforts to achieve its objectives of political,

economic, and social integration in the sub-region has

continued to promote democratic principles and respect for

human rights as enshrined in the African Charter on Human

and Peoples Rights.