ECOWAS monitoring group (ECOMOG)  was established to ________

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks about the purpose for which ECOMOG (ECOWAS Monitoring Group) was established.

Step 2: Explain the concept ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) was formed in 1975 mainly for economic integration. Over time, conflicts such as the Liberian civil war (which began in 1989) threatened regional stability. In 1990, ECOWAS created ECOMOG as a multinational peacekeeping force to intervene in these conflicts.

ECOMOG's major operations:

• Liberia (1990): to end the civil war and restore order
• Sierra Leone (1997-1999): to restore the democratically elected government and peace
• Guinea-Bissau (1998-1999): to help stabilize the country

Nigeria contributed the largest number of troops and funding to these missions.

Step 3: Evaluate the options

• A. Recruit able-bodied men to defend West Africa: Wrong. ECOMOG was not a recruitment body. It was a peacekeeping force made up of troops from member states.
• B. Restore peace to war-torn West African countries: Correct. This matches ECOMOG's peacekeeping and peace enforcement role in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
• C. Change bad government in West Africa: Wrong. ECOMOG was not meant to remove governments because of poor governance. This goes against ECOWAS principles of non-interference.
• D. Cooperation of the ex-servicemen with the governor: Wrong. This has nothing to do with ECOMOG.

Step 4: Answer

Exam tip: Remember ECOMOG = peacekeeping. Any option with "peace," "ceasefire," or "restore order" is usually the right one for questions on ECOMOG. Associate it with Liberia and Sierra Leone to lock it in.