Bordered on the north by the Sahara Desert and on the south by the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa has sixteen countries and 365 million inhabitants. This region has experienced a migration phenomenon not seen since the period of the great empires. While this is not a major issue, for the past two decades, the rise of rebel groups, the difficult economic situation, and the spread of diseases triggered a new mindset. Although most researchers targeted politic and economic reforms as a means to mitigate the problem, this thesis posits that security forces can play a key role. This research is based on the assumption that by enforcing border control and participating in economic development, security personnel can reduce migration. In view of the above, the study analyzes the capability of the Economic Community of West African States Standby Force to reduce migration, and makes a comparative case study of Mali and U.S. migration policies.

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