Summary of Proceedings of the Expert Meeting on The Impact of Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking on Governance, Development & Security in West Africa

In recent years, the trans-shipment of illicit narcotics from Latin America through West Africa to Europe and North America has increased significantly, leading to higher levels of drug consumption in the transit countries, posing a serious and growing threat to the peace, stability and health of a region emerging from decades of violent strife.

On April 18-20, the Foundation, in partnership with the Centre on International Cooperation at NYU, the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping training Centre, and the Intergovernmental Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), with the support of the Open Society Institute, organised a workshop in Dakar, Senegal, to analyse the Impact of Organised Crime and Drug Trafficking on Governance, Security and Development in West Africa. 

Over the course of the three days, 50 experts from West Africa, Latin America, North America and Europe, met to review and discuss the implications and impact of drug trafficking on governance, security and the economic and social development of the region. Participants represented a variety of expertise in terms of substance as well as regional origin, including individuals from civil society groups, law enforcement, the health sector, the judiciary, academics and members of the media, as well as representatives from the UN Office for West Africa, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The full report of the proceedings of the workshop is available in both English and French below-