COLLECTIVE SECURITY AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT IN THE WEST AFRICAN SUB REGION: A CASE STUDY OF THE SIERRA LEONEAN CRISIS
ABSTRACT
This research project on: collective security and crisis management in the West African sub-region with a case study of the Sierra Leonean crisis. This project is divided into five chapters. Chapter one is the introductory chapter. Chapter  two is the literature review. Chapter three is the formation and  performance  of  ECOWAS  the  principles  of  non  interference  and collective security in the ECOWAS chapter and ECOWAS machineries for conflict  management.  Chapter  four  is  the   Sierra  Leonean  crisis  and intervention of ECOWAS, brief history of Sierra Leonean, the genesis and intensification  of the crisis, intervention of ECOWAS, and major findings. While chapter five is the summary, conclusion and recommendations.
CHAPTER ONE
1.1INTRODUCTION
The  African  continent has  been characterized  as  an underdeveloped nation in the world, that almost nothing positive is expected to come forth either in terms of political and /or economic development. Of course, the potential  for  Africa  either  as  a  region  or  at  its  sub-regional  levels  to develop and operate machinery for conflict resolution has been ruled out. This negative impression ascribed to the continent as a whole, and the fact that several African countries have suffered exploitation during the colonial era, inspired some early nationalists of African origin to challenge both the activities and tendencies of imperialist and Western propaganda. Some of these nationalists leaders include Kwameh Nkrumah of Ghana who advocated for African political unity. Others include Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and  Tafawa  Balewa  of Nigeria  both of whom advocated  for regional   organizations   and   technical   co-operation   between   African countries.
Take for instance, for formation of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS), what apparently was uppermost to the founding fathers  were patriotic and nationalistic feeling. It was very certain that several problems existed, which militated economic, political and social development  of  individual member  nations.  Much  more  there  was  an earnest need to liberate these young nations from neo-colonial domination
through  the  promotion  of  economic  and  social  relations  among  their peoples.  Significantly  there  was  the  need  to  remove  the  “artificial” barriers/boundaries  created  by  various  colonial  masters  in  the  name distinctive nationhood in contrast to cub-regional organization.
It is on this background that leaders of some countries in the sub- region, namely; Nigeria, Togo, Republic of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger,  Coast  Ivory  and  Gambia  voluntarily  ratified  a  treaty  in  Lagos establishing the community.
Following its establishment, ECOWAS has experienced some problems which at times threatened the survival and function sustenance of the organization.  Typical  examples  of  conflicts  experienced  include  the Liberian civil War, Sierra Leone conflict and that of Guinea Bissau.
It is therefore, the intention of this research to discuss of these problems and examine the various approaches employed by ECOWAS to resolve particularly that of Sierra Leone. The study would also attempt to examine the circumstances in Sierra Leone that led to the conflict and the various means used in resolving the conflict by the government of Sierra Leone. The data available would be reviewed using a comparative approach of strategies adopted and results obtained with emphasis on Sierra Leone.
1.2    STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
In considering the establishment of ECOWAS and the role has played especially in conflict management within the sub-region, several questions are bound to rise. For instance, it would be of interest to know how and why the problem erupted in Sierra Leone? What are some of its implication on the sub-region? Why did the sub-regional organization intervene despite the fact that it is an internal conflict in Sierra Leone.? What are the strategies used by ECOWAS to resolve the conflict? Here also, mention will be made of the various  negotiations  and  various  adhoc  committees  set  to  look  into  the problem, and the defense pact and the final use of force ( collective security) through the Economic Community Monitoring Group (ECOMOG).
Also to be addressed by the study is the issue of how the monitoring group intervened and the aftermath of the “ECOMOG” interventions, other areas to be reviewed are the position of the monitoring group itself on the general security of the sub-regional organization. Its implication and relation to other international organizations such as organization of African unity now AU), Common Wealth of Nations and the United Nations Organization (UNO).
1.3    AIMS AND OBJECTIVE OF THE RESERCH
The aims and objectives of the study include the following:
1. To critically examine through analysis of data, the ECOWAS peace pact,  vis-à-vis  the  provision  as  contained  in  the  charter  the  non- intervention in another nations internal problems.
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