Brief

IDS Policy Briefing 60

External Stresses in West Africa: Cross-border Violence and Cocaine Trafficking

Published on 1 May 2014

The 2011 World Development Report on conflict, security and development highlights the centrality of ‘external stresses’ for generating insecurity and increasing the risk of violence in fragile areas.

West African states are particularly vulnerable, with serious concerns around cross-border violence and illicit drug-trafficking. Policy responses need to: tackle the region’s recent legacy of conflict and violent upheaval; address weak governance and entrenched corruption; improve regional cooperation; and support border and outlying communities that have been marginalised by insecurity, poverty and unemployment.

Cite this publication

Collodi, J. (2014) External Stresses in West Africa: Cross-border Violence and Cocaine Trafficking, IDS Policy Briefing 60, Brighton: IDS

Publication details

published by
IDS
authors
Collodi, J
journal
IDS Policy Briefing, issue 60
language
English

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Programmes and centres
Addressing and mitigating violence

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