West Africa is a diverse, multilingual, and heavily populated region that is relatively unfamiliar in Finland. Its population is very young and there are diverse natural resources in the region. The effects of global warming and climate change are highly visible across the region, especially in the Sahel. The media represent the region largely through conflicts, and numerous coups have occurred in many countries in the region, including in recent years.

In this study, we examine the possibilities and conditions for peace, security, and democracy in West Africa. In 2022 Finland opened an embassy to Dakar, Senegal. This study offers recommendations for future Finnish actions in the West African region within the context of Finland’s Africa Strategy. We approach peace in its broad sense: not just as an absence of armed conflicts but as a manifold societal condition in which it is possible for differently positioned individuals and groups to live a secure and meaningful life. Our approach to security is equally broad: human security. Combining these approaches, we argue that a decent livelihood and participation in political life are the central dimensions of peace and security.