West Africa

International Alert has been working in West Africa since 1993 when we started to focus on the protracted conflict in Liberia. Since then we have worked on a range of projects aimed at strengthening the capacity of both civil society and government at local, national and regional levels to participate in and contribute to human security. As most of the conflicts in the sub-region are interconnected and their effects spill over into each other, our work in West Africa is designed to address issues at sub-regional, national and local levels.

Learn more about our West Africa projects below:

	Liberia – In Liberia's post-conflict era, we work with local partners to establish community radio stations and provide training to modern and traditional communicators, promoting dialogue and political participation for all Liberians. Find out more about our work in Liberia
	Sao Tome and Principe – Since 2004, our work in STP aims to strengthen institutions and build the capacity of the media, parliamentarians and NGOs so that they are equipped to prepare for, respond to and manage the country's forthcoming oil revenues. Find out more about our work in STP
	Guinea – Beginning in 2007, Alert has participated in a two and half year consortium with International Crisis Group and Search for Common Ground. This new project works in four areas, information, dialogue, media and international advocacy, to strengthen the peace process in Guinea. Find out more about our work in Guinea
	Regional work – At the regional leve in West Africa, our projects focus on natural resources, such as oil and diamonds, women's participation in peacebuilding, and monitoring the implementation of small arms controls. Find out more about our regional work
	Past projects – In the past we worked to link ECOWAS with West African civil society, we supported the Mano River Union Forum, as well as encouraging good governance in Nigeria. Find out more about our past projects

The conflict context

The political landscape of the West African region is pitted with violent conflict. While most West African conflicts originate in one country, they involve cross-border activities that engulf other communities and states. Kinship, linguistic, political, economic and religious connections mean that crisis in one country directly impacts the situation in neighbouring countries. Conflict in the Mano River Union sub-region in particular has created a severe humanitarian crisis, with over 1 million people killed in the last decade and the creation of over 3 million internally displaced persons and refugees out of a population of 30 million.

There is not one state in West Africa that has not suffered from some form of conflict in the past decade. Protracted civil war in the Mano River Union states of Liberia and Sierra Leone has decimated community infrastructure, and both countries now struggle with maintaining a fragile peace. Sao Tome and Principe is one of the oil rich Niger Delta countries with a potential for violence and corruption if natural resources are misappropriated, and throughout West Africa “blood diamonds” remain a potential source of conflict. Recent union strikes in Guinea have turned violent and left hundreds dead, as workers protest the present Conte-led government and demand regime change. Throughout the region, women’s peacebuilding efforts remain under-funded and under-resourced, despite the enormous strength and determination shown by women during the years of conflict.

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Last updated: February 2007