The Role of ECOWAS in the Promotion of Democracy, Peace and Security in West Africa: Achievements, Challenges and Prospects

Abstract

In a geopolitical environment increasingly marked by persistent military coups, civil wars, and fragile democratic institutions, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has emerged as an essential actor in the defense and restoration of constitutional rule, prevention and resolution of violent conflicts, and the strengthening of democratic norms. Its interventions ranging from high  profile peacekeeping deployments in countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia, to mediation in political crises and the support of electoral integrity demonstrate its capacity to influence political transitions and foster post-conflict peacebuilding.? This article provides a critical and comprehensive examination of the evolving role of ECOWAS in promoting democracy, peace  and security across West Africa, with particular attention to its institutional mechanisms, major interventions, and normative frameworks, while contemplating its future prospects in these areas of intervention.  The research is grounded around a critical review of theoretical and empirical literature on governance and regional integration and desk-based inquiry, adopting an exploratory qualitative research design based on descriptive and thematical analysis of facts derived from secondary sources. The analysis of key issues, placed within the theoretical framework of regional integration, constructive regionalism and democratic peace theories enables the authors to reach important findings and conclusions.  Perhaps, the most striking finding of this article is that while the achievements of ECOWAS give hope for democratic consolidation, peace and security in West Africa, there remains critical structural and operational challenges which need to be overcome if the regional community is going to place itself as a true central actor in West Africa’s current and future democratic peace and development. For example, the resurgence of military takeovers, resilience of authoritarian tendencies, sovereignty sensitivities among member states, ongoing resource constraints, and escalation of transnational security threats continue to test the limits of ECOWAS’s effectiveness. The article concludes by recommending fundamental institutional and operational reforms that can play not a small role in enhancing ECOWAS’s strategic effectiveness in matters of democratic consolidation, peace and regional security in West Africa amid rapid global and regional political, social, and security transformations.