The beginning of the Liberian conflict in 1989 marked for the start of a period of lasting instability in West Africa. Both a lack of will and an inability to provide an effective solution to this conflict on the part of countries in the region and the international community led to a profound destabilization, first of Liberia, and then of neighboring countries, the consequences of which remain difficult to assess at this stage. The Liberian debacle constitutes a "model" of deconstruction the attractiveness and contagion of which throughout the region should not be underestimated. The international community contented itself with sanctioning Charles Taylor's regime, which was of absolutely no use. It is now worth trying other approaches in order to bring about lasting peace in the region.