Trafficking and Fragility in West Africa

Ralston, Laura

World Bank Group, Washington, DC

关键词: ABUSE;    ACCIDENTS;    ACCOUNTABILITY;    ALLIANCES;    ANTI-CORRUPTION;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-7079
RP-ID  :  WPS7079

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Trafficking is an emerging concern inWest Africa. In 2011, 17 percent of all cocaine consumed inEurope -- 21 tons -- passed through the region, for a retailvalue of US$1.7 billion. This paper discusses the evolutionof trafficking in the region and provides estimates of thesize and value of trafficking flows to demonstrate thesignificance of this illegal activity. Although this topicis gaining increasing attention, less attention has been hasbeen paid to how trafficking is perpetuating fragility. Thispaper contributes to this area of research by identifyingfive channels through which trafficking is intensifyingfragility in the region. The relative importance of eachchannel is discussed, with specific countries as case-studyexamples. Possible programmatic responses are then suggestedwith examples of policy approaches successfully adoptedelsewhere in the world.