Ecowas and the challenge of preventing a resurgence of coups d'état in West Africa

An assessment of the 'Zero Tolerance' policy

Bibliographic Data

ID5725448
AuthorsHakeem Onapajo (0000-0002-7845-8586, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria, corresponding author), Dele Babalola (Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, UK)
Year2024
Volume31
Issue1
Pages23-44
Publication date2024-01-02
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSouth African Journal of International Affairs (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1022-0461 • E-ISSN: 1938-0275
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10220461.2024.2353266
OpenAlexW4399076647
LanguageEN
Citations received6

Since the adoption of the Abuja Declaration of Political Principles (1991) and the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance (2001) by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the regional organisation has declared 'zero tolerance' for unconstitutional changes of government, particularly military coups d'état. Despite these declarations, West Africa has continued to experience coups, with a resurgence in the number of these since 2020. This article examines ECOWAS' structures and strategies designed to work against such a resurgence of coups in the region. The article demonstrates that ECOWAS has advanced both diplomatic and non-diplomatic measures to respond to the phenomenon. However, while the regional body has appeared proactive in responding to the coups, it has appeared to have little success thus far; a mix of domestic, regional and international geopolitical factors – which the regional body has failed to address – continues to undermine political stability in the region

Development economics · Economics · Political science · Zero tolerance · Global Peace and Security Dynamics · Historical and Contemporary Political Dynamics · Law · Philosophy

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