New Middle Ages by Bohumil Doboš

Author:Bohumil Doboš
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9783030586812
Publisher: Springer International Publishing

5.1.24 West Africa

The remaining African region comprises of the western African states not included in other regions. As a region historically troubled by civil wars and internal conflicts, the level of foreign aid is quite high with direct involvement especially in the fight against Boko Haram and developmental aid in most of the region (−1). Borders manifest major defects in many parts of the region. This is not only connected to the issues with the control over the borders with the restive regions like Mali but also to the borders between these nations themselves (−1). According to the FSI data, the overall level of state failure in the region is quite steady. In 2012 the average score was 89.5, and in 2017 it rose to 90. These give an overall score of 89.7 – warning (−1). The degree of a provision of services by a state is different across the region but, overall, rather problematic (0). Non-state actors on functional level are quite important, be it NGOs helping develop the region or private military companies providing security (McFate 2014). Also, traditional and other local non-state actors play an important role (−1). On the territorial level, the most prominent example of the non-state actor challenging the state supremacy is Boko Haram in northern Nigeria. Nevertheless, areas under sustained non-state control are on the regional level only limited (0). Non-state actors are important power brokers (−1).

The region undergoes major periods of high illegitimate use of violence. These, however, do not affect all of the regions as countries like Ghana, Liberia, or Sierra Leone are currently mostly peaceful (−2). The region experiences a period of full-blown conflict mostly connected to the fight against Boko Haram (−1). The provision of basic goods is divided between state in some areas and local actors in the rest (−1). Connection to the global flows is limited and mainly of economic nature. Western Africa is, however, an increasingly important region with a potential of further connection in the near future (0). The issue of border regime and mutual cooperation is rather problematic due to the inability of states to control their territory (−1). Despite the presence of the Economic Community of West African States, we cannot speak of a fully functioning regional organization yet (0). The nature of non-state actors is combined with NGOs and state-supporting organizations and violent non-state actors located around the region (0). States are unable to properly manage the spread of weaponry (−2).

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