Combating transnational organised crime in conflict-affected states

Organised crime has grown dramatically over the past 20 years, with transnational criminal markets flourishing across a range of sectors, from drug and arms trafficking to human trafficking and environmental crime. In conflict-affected states, organised crime can act as a ‘spoiler’, undermining peace processes and state capacities, delegitimising governments and fuelling instability and violence. Tackling organised crime is of particular importance for peace operations and other peacebuilding activities in conflict-affected and fragile states.

This research project examines previous multilateral efforts to respond to transnational organized crime in conflict-affected and fragile states. The research project includes two country case studies, which consider the impact of transnational organized crime and human trafficking in the Central African Republic and in Mali, as well as a policy brief that considers these dynamics at the global level.

The worldwide Policy Notepublished in August 2024, takes stock of past multilateral efforts to combat transnational organized crime and considers future directions for a more coordinated and effective response.

The two case studies on the dynamics of transnational organised crime in the Central African Republic and Mali will be published in the autumn of 2024.