2 - The Challenge of Drug Trafficking to Democratic Governance and Human Security in West Africa: A Historical Reflection
Corresponding Author(s) : Olayemi Jacob Ogunniyi
Africa Development,
Vol. 44 No. 4 (2019): Africa Development: Special Issue on Money, Security and Democratic Governance in Africa (IV)
Abstract
We argue that West Africa has come into the spotlight as an increasingly important site and destination in the global drug trafficking system. Evidence of the growing role of the sub-region in the global strategy and operations of international drug cartels is broad and varied, comprising a complex admixture of both direct, traceable facts from official and non-official sources, and more indirect information of an indicative, associative and anecdotal nature. Initially targeted as a re-distribution centre and transit point for the trafficking of drugs to end-use destinations around the world, most notably Europe and North America, the sub-region has gradually become a market destination in its own right for global drug cartels mainly, though not exclusively, originating from Latin America. Evidence also points to the emergence of West Africa as an increasingly significant production site for some types of drugs, including amphetamine-type stimulants. The analysis presented in this article points to the history and context of the governance and human security challenges faced by West African countries and the ways in which drug trafficking cartels have both taken advantage of them and, simultaneously, contributed to the exacerbation of the problems. The article concludes that in responding to the governance challenges posed by or associated with drug trafficking, West African countries, working together with one another and in concert with Western countries, civic groups/movements and the private sector will need a much more coherent and coordinated approach, anchored on the idea of the ultimate indivisibility of governance and human security in the sub-region.
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- Akyeampong, E, 2005, ‘Diaspora and drug trafficking in West Africa: a case study of Ghana’, African Affairs 104 (416): 435–7.
- Amado, P. A., 2008, ‘West Africa under attack: drugs, organized crime and terrorism as the new threats to global security’, Madrid: Research Unit on International Security and Cooperation (UNISCI) Discussion Papers, No. 16, January.
- Bybee, A., 2011, Narco-State or Failed State? Narcotics and Politics in Guinea-Bissau, Alexandria, VA: Institute for Defense Analyses, September.
- Champin, C., 2012, ‘International Crisis Group s’interroge sur la poursuite du trafic de cocaïne en Guinee-Bissau’ (International Crisis Group questions the pursuit of cocaine trafficking in Guinea-Bissau), RFI, Blog Afrique Drogue, 24 January.
- Ellis, S., 2009, ‘West Africa’s international drug trade’, African Affairs 108 (431): 171–96.
- Farah, D., 2014, ‘Transnational drug enterprises: threats to global stability and U.S. national security from Southwest Asia, Latin America and West Africa’, Testimony before House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 1 October, Crime Affairs 34.
- Feinstein, D 2012. ‘Acupoint stimulation in treating psychological disorders. Evidence of efficacy’. Review of General Psychology 16(4). pp 364-380.
- Felbab-Brown, V., 2010, ‘The West African drug trade in context of the region’s illicit economies and poor governance’, presentation to Conference on Drug Trafficking in West Africa, Arlington, VA, October.
- Harrigan 2012 Harrigan K. Rudie, ‘The Synergy Limitation Paradox (September 1, 2012) Columbia Business School, Research paper No. 15-15 Available at SSRN. https://ssrn.com/abstract 254436 (Accessed on 3 January 2016) International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, 2012, Drug and Chemical Control, Washington, DC: U.S. Department of State, Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, March.
- Kurtzleben, D., 2009, Africa–US: Growing Drug Trade Linked to Terror Groups, Inter Press Service.
- Mazzitelli, L.A., 2007, ‘Transnational organized crime in West Africa: the additional challenge’, International Affairs 83 (6).
- Melly, P., 2012. ‘The sad decline of Mali’ The World Today. Vol. 68, Number, 4. CHATHAM House The Royal Institute of International Affairs Publication.
- Pena, A., 2012,‘DEA: Mexican drug cartels reach further across Africa’, Voice of America, 15 June, www.voa.com/dea_mexican/54, (Accessed 12 July 2017)
- Regan, D., 2010, ‘Cocaine and instability in Africa: lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean’, Africa Security Brief, Washington, DC: Africa Center for Security Studies, July.
- Reyskens, M., 2012, ‘Drug economy: Africa and the international illicit drug trade’, www.defenceweb.com/45_drug, accessed on 21 July 2017.
- Rotella, S. and Kraul, C., 2007, ‘A drug’s worrisome detour: much of Europe’s cocaine now arrives via West Africa, where the law means little’, Los Angeles Times, 14 March.
- Scott, C., 2010, “The Enduring Appeal of Learning Styles” Australian Journal of Education Vol. 54 issue I, Article I.
- United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 2008, Drug Trafficking as a Security Threat in West Africa, New York: UNODC, October.
- UNODC, 2012, West Africa – ATS Situation Report, June.
- UNODC, 2016, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2016 (United Nations Publication, Sales No. E 16, X17).
- Williams, P. and Haacke, J., 2008, ‘Security culture, transnational challenges and the Economic Community of West African States’, Journal of Contemporary African Studies 26 (2): 119–36.
- World Drug Report 2010, Drug Policy Consortium, International, The World Drug Report 2010: A Response from the International Drug Policy Consortium (September 1, 2010) Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract-1909919 (Accessed on 5 February, 2016).
- Wyler, L.S. and Cook, N., 2009, Illegal Drug Trade in Africa: Trends and U.S. Policy, Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 30 September.
References
Akyeampong, E, 2005, ‘Diaspora and drug trafficking in West Africa: a case study of Ghana’, African Affairs 104 (416): 435–7.
Amado, P. A., 2008, ‘West Africa under attack: drugs, organized crime and terrorism as the new threats to global security’, Madrid: Research Unit on International Security and Cooperation (UNISCI) Discussion Papers, No. 16, January.
Bybee, A., 2011, Narco-State or Failed State? Narcotics and Politics in Guinea-Bissau, Alexandria, VA: Institute for Defense Analyses, September.
Champin, C., 2012, ‘International Crisis Group s’interroge sur la poursuite du trafic de cocaïne en Guinee-Bissau’ (International Crisis Group questions the pursuit of cocaine trafficking in Guinea-Bissau), RFI, Blog Afrique Drogue, 24 January.
Ellis, S., 2009, ‘West Africa’s international drug trade’, African Affairs 108 (431): 171–96.
Farah, D., 2014, ‘Transnational drug enterprises: threats to global stability and U.S. national security from Southwest Asia, Latin America and West Africa’, Testimony before House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 1 October, Crime Affairs 34.
Feinstein, D 2012. ‘Acupoint stimulation in treating psychological disorders. Evidence of efficacy’. Review of General Psychology 16(4). pp 364-380.
Felbab-Brown, V., 2010, ‘The West African drug trade in context of the region’s illicit economies and poor governance’, presentation to Conference on Drug Trafficking in West Africa, Arlington, VA, October.
Harrigan 2012 Harrigan K. Rudie, ‘The Synergy Limitation Paradox (September 1, 2012) Columbia Business School, Research paper No. 15-15 Available at SSRN. https://ssrn.com/abstract 254436 (Accessed on 3 January 2016) International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, 2012, Drug and Chemical Control, Washington, DC: U.S. Department of State, Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, March.
Kurtzleben, D., 2009, Africa–US: Growing Drug Trade Linked to Terror Groups, Inter Press Service.
Mazzitelli, L.A., 2007, ‘Transnational organized crime in West Africa: the additional challenge’, International Affairs 83 (6).
Melly, P., 2012. ‘The sad decline of Mali’ The World Today. Vol. 68, Number, 4. CHATHAM House The Royal Institute of International Affairs Publication.
Pena, A., 2012,‘DEA: Mexican drug cartels reach further across Africa’, Voice of America, 15 June, www.voa.com/dea_mexican/54, (Accessed 12 July 2017)
Regan, D., 2010, ‘Cocaine and instability in Africa: lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean’, Africa Security Brief, Washington, DC: Africa Center for Security Studies, July.
Reyskens, M., 2012, ‘Drug economy: Africa and the international illicit drug trade’, www.defenceweb.com/45_drug, accessed on 21 July 2017.
Rotella, S. and Kraul, C., 2007, ‘A drug’s worrisome detour: much of Europe’s cocaine now arrives via West Africa, where the law means little’, Los Angeles Times, 14 March.
Scott, C., 2010, “The Enduring Appeal of Learning Styles” Australian Journal of Education Vol. 54 issue I, Article I.
United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 2008, Drug Trafficking as a Security Threat in West Africa, New York: UNODC, October.
UNODC, 2012, West Africa – ATS Situation Report, June.
UNODC, 2016, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2016 (United Nations Publication, Sales No. E 16, X17).
Williams, P. and Haacke, J., 2008, ‘Security culture, transnational challenges and the Economic Community of West African States’, Journal of Contemporary African Studies 26 (2): 119–36.
World Drug Report 2010, Drug Policy Consortium, International, The World Drug Report 2010: A Response from the International Drug Policy Consortium (September 1, 2010) Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract-1909919 (Accessed on 5 February, 2016).
Wyler, L.S. and Cook, N., 2009, Illegal Drug Trade in Africa: Trends and U.S. Policy, Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 30 September.