In restoring peace and security to Liberia and Sierra Leone the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) deployed a military force known as

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for the name of the military force ECOWAS deployed to restore peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone during their civil wars in the 1990s.

Step 2: The concept ECOWAS was formed in 1975 mainly for economic integration. In 1990, civil war in Liberia (and later Sierra Leone) threatened regional stability. ECOWAS then set up a joint military and peacekeeping body, which showed it could handle security matters as well as economic ones.

The force was called ECOMOG: the ECOWAS Cease-fire Monitoring Group (often written as ECOWAS Monitoring Group). Nigeria contributed the largest number of troops and most of the funding and commanders. Other members, such as Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Gambia, also contributed.

Step 3: Eliminate the options

• A. Regional Armed Forces (RAF): There is no such ECOWAS body.
• B. Peace Keeping Force of West Africa (PKFWA): This is not the official name of the force.
• C. ECOMOG: This is the correct name of the force deployed in Liberia (1990) and Sierra Leone (1997–98).
• D. ECOWAS Heads of State and Government: This is the highest decision-making authority of ECOWAS. It authorized the force but is not a military force itself.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is C. ECOWAS Ceasefire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG).

Exam tip: Remember "ECOMOG = ECOWAS + Monitoring Group", the military arm of ECOWAS. If a question mentions peacekeeping in Liberia or Sierra Leone, ECOMOG is almost always the answer. Also remember that the Heads of State make the decisions, while ECOMOG carries them out on the ground.