Komlan Avoulete

The West African geopolitical landscape is undergoing a seismic shift. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) inability to effectively address the region's political and security challenges has eroded faith in its vision. The institution has lost its legendary prestige in the eyes of West Africans, and its conduct has caused instability in the region. ECOWAS, which will celebrate fifty years of existence on May 28, 2025, appears to lack the maturity of its age.

West Africa is now facing a whirlwind of military takeovers. From Mali’s 2020 putsch to the recent tremors in Niger, these coups have shattered the region’s political equilibrium. On one side stand the military juntas of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, each promising stability and sovereignty in the face of rumbling insurgencies and foreign influences.