This study begins by characterising the nature of post-Cold War conflicts in Africa. It then considers the military role of the Economic Community of West African States Cease-fire Monitoring Group ECOMOG] and the relatively new phenomenon of the strategic military involvement of ECOWAS in Sierra Leone and Liberia, given that the function of ECOWAS in the sub-region was designed to be primarily economic. The author assesses the efficacy of armed third party intervention, and some of the technical and legal, political and diplomatic problems and ramifications. He expands his analysis of their implications for the development of a general theory and method of conflict mediation in Africa.
