: The recent trends in the West African sub-region display various contradictions. On the one hand, certain political and economic developments give reason for optimism. On the other hand, new and very serious threats have emerged over the last years which – if not addressed adequately – could undercut gains made and erode stability and security in the whole region. On the positive side, economic growth rates have been promising, and elections have become well established as the only legitimate way of changing the government. Despite remaining problems, as with the post-electoral developments in Côte d’Ivoire, no major conflicts have shattered the region in the recent past. The election-related experiences of Togo, Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria allow for cautious optimism. However, it has to be emphasized that elections are just the beginning of democratic processes and cannot replace institutional reforms, most notably in the security sector. Read more