Armed and Aimless: Armed groups, Guns and Human Security in the ECOWAS Region

This lengthy report is comprehensive study of armed groups and small arms in the ECOWAS region up to early 2005. Part I contains six in-depth studies. Part II consists of a region-wide mapping of armed groups operational at that time in the ECOWAS region. It is included as the detailed analysis provided contains useful information on both cross border conflict dynamics as well as some of the drivers of participation in armed groups as well as ex-combatant recycling. Conclusions drawn (pgs. 385) highlight the regional and complex dynamics of regional threats and the need for coordinated responses Further useful documents can be found in their publications: http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/