Youth, Poverty and Blood
The Lethal Legacy of West Africa’s Regional Warriors

I. Summary

II. Recommendations

To the Governments of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire
To All Governments donating funds to Liberia
To the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) and the African Union
To the United Nations Security Council
To the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) and United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (ONUCI)
To the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
To the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)
To the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank and others involved in the design, management and evaluation of disarmament exercises
To the Government of Nigeria
To the International Committee of the Red Cross

III. Context

The Regional Warrior
The Sub-Regional Dynamic of West African Conflicts
Economic and Social Factors

IV. The Recruiters, Their Promises, the Lure

Promises of Payment and the Opportunity to Loot
Recruitment in Refugee Camps

V. Regional Warriors and Human Rights Abuses

High Level Orders to Commit Atrocities – the Liberian Security Forces and RUF in Guinea
Efforts to Respect the Laws of War Met With Limited Success – The LURD in Liberia
Looting on Massive Scale – Not Ordered but Sanctioned at the Highest Level

VI. Current Theaters: Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire

Guinea
Côte d’Ivoire

VII. Problems in the Disarmament Programs in Sierra Leone and Liberia [1998-2005]

Sierra Leonean Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Program (1998-2003)
Liberian Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (2002-present)
Payment to Demobilized Children in Liberia and Increased Risk of Re-recruitment
Risks of Failure in the Disarmament Program in Liberia
Corruption by Commanders and DDR/DDRR Program Employees
Lack of Grievance Procedure
Inadequate job training options

VIII. Conclusion

IX. Acknowledgements

     Annex

April 2005   Vol. 17, No. 5(A)