Drug Trafficking in West Africa - The Case of Guinea-Bissau

Résumé du document

When the police seized cocaine worth 15% of the country's annual income, two explanations emerged, either Africa is one of the poorest in the world or it has an alarming drug-trafficking problem. In the case of Guinea-Bissau, both explanations are valid. The whole of West Africa is becoming a new drug trafficking route for Latin-American drug traffickers trying to meet an ever-growing demand of cocaine coming from Europe. The costs of this traffic are very high for the population and threaten people's health as well as socio-economic development, democratization and the peace-building processes. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Executive Director, Antonio Maria Costa, called for the international community, meaning the United Nations (UN), to help tackle this problem by providing 'financial and technical assistance' to African countries. Throughout the study of Portuguese-speaking Guinea-Bissau, we will address the major threats implied by drug trafficking on Africa's development.

Extraits

[...] Drug Trafficking in West Africa - The Case of Guinea-Bissau DRUG TRAFFICKING IN WEST AFRICA: A NEW PLAGUE IN AFRICA. THE CASE OF GUINEA-BISSAU. When the police seize cocaine worth 15% of the country's annual income, two explanations may emerged: either the country is one of the poorest in the world or it has an alarming drugtrafficking problem1. In the case of Guinea-Bissau, both explanations are valid. The whole of West Africa is becoming a new drug trafficking route for Latin-American drug traffickers trying to meet an ever-growing demand of cocaine coming from Europe ( Costa The costs of this traffic are very high for the population and threaten people's health as well as socio-economic development, democratization and peace-building processes ( UNODC The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime ( UNODC ) Executive Director, Antonio Maria Costa, called for the international community, meaning the United Nations ( UN to help tackling this problem by providing “financial and technical assistance” to African countries ( Costa Throughout the study of Portuguesespeaking Guinea-Bissau, we will address the major threats implied by drug trafficking for Africa's development. [...]

[...] A THREAT FOR GOVERNANCE AND THE RULE OF LAW One thing is for sure: drug trafficking is bad for governance and democratization. The example of Guinea-Bissau is relevant in this respect. According to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation indicator of governance, Guinea-Bissau has seen a sharp decline in governance in the last years, i.e. since it has become a major hub in international drug trafficking ( UNODC The assassination of the President is a concrete proof of an increasing instability ; bribed and corrupted judges another ; the sacking of Orlando Antonia da Silva ( see above ) a third. [...]

[...] And even if traffickers are arrested to be trialed, corruption is so high in Guinea-Bissau that they probably will be released and then disappear. CORRUPTED CIVIL SERVANTS After Guinea-Bissau's head of judicial police, Orlando Antonio da Silva, arrested two Colombians in the event of a major drug seizure in 2007, not only were both suspects released on bail but Mr. da Silva was sacked by the Interior Minister for investigating into this case ( Ellis The involvement of the political élite or of the military makes it easier for traffickers to do their business unnoticed and free of any worries as they just have to bribe officials. [...]

[...] GOODWIN, Andrew, “Drug trafficking: an alarming human security threat” MEDDI, Adlène, “blanche” envahit l'Afrique” in El Watan, Alger, November 12th DIENG, Momar, “Nino Vieira et Tagmé Na Wai tués : Le Sénégal lourdement menacé” in Le Quotidien, Dakar, March 3rd MANE, Mamadou Papo, Une instabilité qui pourrait être contagieuse in Wal Fadjri, Dakar, December 4th SAVIANO, Roberto, La poudre blanche fait parler d'elle in La Stampa, Rome, July 16th OBERLE, Thierry, Bissau, le naufrage du narco-Etat guinéen” in Le Figaro, Paris, March 17th CORDEIRO, Ana Dias, paix civile grace à la drogue” in Publico, Lisbon, March 23th Article from the DAILY NATION, Kenya : Drugs linked to Kenya's alarming HIV spread”, December 14th Article from BBC NEWS, UK : “Africa drug trade 'fuels terror'”, December 9th UNODC, Cocaine trafficking in West Africa. [...]

[...] The only long-term thing that could come from the drug business is an impoverishment of the country as a whole as corrupted public servants would be too preoccupied securing huge bribes for themselves instead of leading the country onto the path of socioeconomic development. A MAJOR HEALTH ISSUE West Africa's status as a hub in the international drug trade could become a major public health concern in the sub-region. For the time being, there is little plantation on the continent so the local consumption is rather small. Things could, however, get worse. We do not have enough insight to analyze this properly but two main schemes are possible. [...]