Local Catalysts, Global Reactions. Cycles of Conflict in the Mano River

This research paper examines the drivers of conflict and the peacekeeping efforts in the Mano River Basin, highlighting the roles of displaced populations, illicit trade, and international security concerns.

• The Mano River Basin, comprising Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Guinea, is characterized by an abundance of diamonds, timber, and cocoa, contrasted with poor governance, stability, and literacy. Peace in the region is threatened by three interlinked factors: the movement of displaced people, the failure to reintegrate these populations post-conflict, and the influence of illicit trade.
• UN peacekeeping missions in Sierra Leone and Liberia demonstrated that conflicts in these nations were not 'beyond peacekeeping'. UNAMSIL was scheduled to withdraw by 31 December 2005, having peaked at 17,000 troops. In Liberia, UNMIL continued work ahead of elections scheduled for 11 October 2005. In Côte d’Ivoire, UNOCI's disarmament programme was scheduled to start on 27 June 2005, with elections planned for 30 October 2005.
• There is a connection between regional violence and global terrorism, specifically noting that Al Qaeda traded diamonds with the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in the months before the 11 September 2001 attacks. This has led the United States to initiate anti-terrorist training in other West African nations.

APA

Weiss, T. (n.d.). Local Catalysts, Global Reactions. Cycles of Conflict in the Mano River. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/research/monographs/monograph-118-local-catalysts-global-reactions.-cycles-of-conflict-in-the-mano-river-taya-weiss

Chicago

Weiss, Taya. Local Catalysts, Global Reactions. Cycles of Conflict in the Mano River. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.org/research/monographs/monograph-118-local-catalysts-global-reactions.-cycles-of-conflict-in-the-mano-river-taya-weiss.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Weiss |first1=Taya |title=Local Catalysts, Global Reactions. Cycles of Conflict in the Mano River |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.org/research/monographs/monograph-118-local-catalysts-global-reactions.-cycles-of-conflict-in-the-mano-river-taya-weiss |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{weissndlocal, author = {Weiss, Taya}, title = {{Local Catalysts, Global Reactions. Cycles of Conflict in the Mano River}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/research/monographs/monograph-118-local-catalysts-global-reactions.-cycles-of-conflict-in-the-mano-river-taya-weiss}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }