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Preventive Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution in West Africa: the Case of the 2016 Gambian Election Crisis

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Preventive Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution in West Africa: the Case of the 2016 Gambian Election Crisis University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN WEST AFRICA: THE CASE OF THE 2016 GAMBIAN ELECTION CRISIS BY AMANDA ASANTEWAA ASAFO-ADJEI (10336840) THIS DISSERTATION IS SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS LEGON JULY 2019 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DECLARATION I hereby declare that the content of this research work is my original work. With the exclusion of quoted references and acknowledged sources used under the supervision of Dr. Ken Ahorsu, no part of this work has been submitted for another degree or purpose. ……………………………… …………….……………… AMANDA ASAFO-ADJEI DR. KEN AHORSU (STUDENT) (SUPERVISOR) DATE……………………… DATE………………………. i University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DEDICATION This work is dedicated to God Almighty for the strength, favor and guidance throughout my stay at the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD) and in putting this work together. I also dedicate it to my family for the constant love and support that motivated me to complete this work. ii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My deepest and sincere gratitude goes to God Almighty for the guidance, strength, mercies and favor during this entire period. My sincere gratitude also goes out to my supervisor for his constant help, motivation and advice which helped shape this work. I am very grateful to Nana Ato Dadzie for welcoming me wholeheartedly and sharing his experiences with me. I am also very grateful to Penda Tommy, Ambassador Lawrence Satuh and Ambassador Baah- Duodu for their contribution to this work. Thank you to the amazing LECIAD CLASS (part time) of 2018/2019 for the great experiences we shared together, those memories will always be cherished and to the amazing ladies I met in LECIAD who made all this worthwhile, Nana Adwoa Attafuah, Belinda Ansong, Illham Gombilla and Dorcia Frempong, thank you ladies for the memories. I express much appreciation to my lovely family for the constant prayers and support as well as my best friends Agnes Annoh, Geraldine Addo, Richard Botchway and Alfred Davies who understood my silence and absence in the course of putting this work together. Finally, to the staff of LECIAD, I express a huge thank you for the constant help and support and may the good God bless you abundantly. iii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AFPRC - Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council AMISOM - Africa Union Mission in Somalia APRC - Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction ASEAN - Association of Southeast Asian Nations AU - Africa Union DCA - Democratic Congress Alliance DP - Democratic Party ECCAS - Economic Community of Central African States ECOMIG - ECOWAS Mission in the Gambia ECOMOG - ECOWAS Cease-fire Monitoring Group ECOWAS - Economic Community of West African States ECOWARN - ECOWAS Early Warning Network EU - European Union GA - General Assembly GDC - Gambia Democratic Congress GNA - Gambia National Army GSRP - Gambia Socialist Revolutionary Party ICC - International Criminal Court IEC - Independent Electoral Commission LGBT - Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender MCP - Muslim Congress Party iv University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh MOJA-G - Movement for Justice in Africa-Gambia NADD - National Alliance for Democracy and Development NCP - National Convention Party NGOs - Non-Governmental Organizations NIA - National Intelligence Agency NLP - National Liberation Party NRP - National Reconciliation Party OAS - Organization of American States OSCE - Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe OSIWA - Open Society Initiative for West Africa PDOIS - People’s Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism PPP - People’s Progressive Party PPP - People’s Protectorate Party R2P - Responsibility to Protect SADC - Southern Africa Development Community SC - Security Council UDP - United Democratic Party UNASUR - Union of Southern American Nations UN - United Nations UNOWAS - United Nations Office for West Africa and Sahel UNSG - United Nations Secretary General UP - United Party v University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION .................................................................................................................................... i DEDICATION ....................................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.................................................................................................................. iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS............................................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................................................... vi ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................................ viii CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.0 Background to the Research Problem ........................................................................................... 1 1.1 Statement of the Research Problem .............................................................................................. 4 1.2 Research Questions ...................................................................................................................... 5 1.3 Research Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Scope of Study ............................................................................................................................. 6 1.5 Rationale of the Study .................................................................................................................. 6 1.6 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................................ 6 1.7 Literature review ........................................................................................................................ 11 1.8 Research Methodology............................................................................................................... 25 1.9 Sources of Data .......................................................................................................................... 26 1.10 Arrangement of Chapters ........................................................................................................... 27 ENDNOTES ......................................................................................................................................... 28 CHAPTER TWO................................................................................................................................. 31 AN OVERVIEW OF ECOWAS: PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY ..................................................... 31 2.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 31 2.1 The Concept of Preventive Diplomacy ....................................................................................... 31 2.2 Virtues of Preventive Diplomacy ............................................................................................... 32 2.3 Major Actors in Preventive Diplomacy ...................................................................................... 38 2.4 The Tracks of Preventive Diplomacy ......................................................................................... 41 2.5 ECOWAS and Conflict Resolution ............................................................................................ 44 2.6 ECOWAS PROTOCOL relating to the mechanism for conflict, management, resolution, peacekeeping and security ..................................................................................................................... 46 2.7 ECOWAS Warning and Response Network (ECOWARN) ........................................................ 47 2.8 Gambia & December 2016 Post election conflict ........................................................................ 48 2.9 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 50 vi University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ENDNOTES ......................................................................................................................................... 51 CHAPTER THREE............................................................................................................................. 54 THE 2016 GAMBIA ELECTIONS CONFLICT AND ECOWAS .................................................... 54 3.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 54 3.1 Political Background of Gambia................................................................................................. 54 3.1.1 Independence of Gambia ...................................................................................................
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