Africa’s population is projected to double by 2050, marked by a significant youth demographic and increased mobility, facilitated by protocols like the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol. These demographic shifts have important implications for peace and security in the region. There is, however, a scarcity of comprehensive studies that effectively link demographic trends to human security issues in West Africa.
The Commandants of the ECOWAS Training Centres of Excellence, in meetings held in 2018 and 2021, approved a study focusing on the influence of demographic shifts on states and societies in West Africa. This study is being conducted on behalf of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The primary goal of the study is to uncover the connections between demographic trends in the region and peace and security in West Africa. It aims to specifically explore how demographic factors interact with governance structures, migratory patterns, and ecological dynamics to influence outcomes related to peace and security in all fifteen member states of ECOWAS. The research findings will be used to formulate targeted policy interventions aimed at enhancing community resilience against conflict and instability in the West African region. Currently, the three regional training centers of excellence—KAIPTC, National Defence College in Nigeria, and EMPABB in Mali—are actively collecting data from all fifteen ECOWAS member states for this purpose