West Africa’s drugs trafficking and usage problems in focus as countries consider pragmatic alternatives
West Africa has become a hub for drug trafficking and usage, as cartels exploit weak security systems, and collaborate with locals to use the region as transit route for exporting illicit drugs to Europe and North America. The region’s populations have become heavy users of these drugs as a consequence.
According to the United Nations (UN), there are an estimated 2.3 million cocaine users in West Africa and about 30 tonnes of cocaine and 400 kilogrammes of heroin were trafficked in the region during the year 2011.
The UN no longer sees West Africa as simply a transit route for drugs but that it has also “become a final destination” as there are now up to 2.3 million cocaine users in West and Central Africa, most of them in West Africa, according to the World Drug Report 2012.
Mr Yury Fedotov, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has even expressed worries about the situation in the region during a briefing at the UN Security Council on drugs and crime in West Africa.
Fedotov told the Council, that with increased trafficking, production and consumption of drugs, as well as piracy and insecurity, West Africa represents one of the key challenges for UNODC and remains one of its priorities.
The World Drug Report also estimated that cocaine trafficking in West Africa generate some $900 million in annual profits for criminal networks.
This situation poses a threat to national security, the teeming youth of countries in the region and it is a potential public health hazard.
When the situation caught the attention of former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, he convened the West Africa Commission on Drugs (WACD) in January 2013. The Commission’s objectives are to mobilise public awareness and political commitment around the challenges posed by drug trafficking; develop evidence-based policy recommendations; and promote regional and local capacity and ownership to manage these challenges.
Another challenge in the fight against illicit drug usage in West Africa, which has been identified as not serving its functional purpose, is custodial sentences for illicit drug users. Most illicit drugs users need to be helped and not put behind bars.
These discussions among others in addressing, in pragmatic ways the drugs menace in the region would take center-stage at a regional consultation on drug policy reform in West Africa to be held in Accra from January 19 to 20, 2016, under the auspices of the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI).
This consultation is part of the overall efforts in West Africa to fashion out workable and functional ways of dealing with the issues.
The concept note for the consultation notes that numerous actions have been taken at regional level and across Africa for a balance approach on the issue using the AU Plan of Action on Drugs 2013-2017 as a guideline.
“In 2014, African Ministries overseeing Drug Control activities met around the topic ‘Drugs Kill, but Bad Drug Policies Kill more’. They came up with a series of recommendations, including the need to agree on a Common African Position for the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on drugs in 2016, and to scale-up evidence-based and human rights-based services for people whom use drugs,” it states.
The organizers, also made reference to the African Union (AU) Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Health, Population and Drug Control which met in Addis Ababa from April 12-17, 2015 to look at the inter linkages between health and drug control and come up with recommendations for the UNGASS.
“The time is right, the upcoming General Assembly’s Special Session on the World Drug Problem in 2016 offers a unique opportunity for West African countries to evaluate and adjust the current drug policies to ensure that it responds to national and regional realities. This can be done proficiently through a series of discussions among key stakeholders from the various sector institutions involved in drug policy formulation and implementation, including civil society,” they added.
Among others the organizers are drawing consensus based on previous national meetings.
They are urging governments in the region to take a second look at justice and security by developing a new approach which emphasises on the prevention and support to drug addicts; Revise the drugs’ law to facilitate interventions and treatments for drug users; Explore building treatment and interventions facilities in prisons for the for those sentenced for drug offences; Harmonise the laws against drug trafficking, within West Africa to avoid “safe haven” for drug traffickers in the region.
They are calling on governments to strengthen the existing law enforcement on drug offences by emphasizing on prevention measures, determination of casualties and the responsibility of perpetrators; Regularly assess and strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies to respond effectively to the strategies of drug traffickers; Work with CSOs to develop prevention measures and new a drug policy.
The organizers want governments in the region to enhance information, education and communication/behavioural change (IEC/BCC) actions to reduce drug consumption prevalence; Allocate more resources for treatment centres for drugs users; Promote task shifting from the current inadequate numbers of mental health specialists to medical officers and nurses and build their capacity on harm reduction; Allocate more resources for research centres and data collection on the drug users for the implementation of evidence based policy, and support CSOs running treatment and rehabilitation services for drug users.
They are also calling on Civil society to advocate for drug policy reform underpinned by public health and human rights.
The overall objectives of the regional meeting in Accra will provide an opportunity for government officials and national law enforcement agencies to discuss drug policy issues and necessary reforms identified at the national-level meetings, according to the organizers.
By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi