The Alliance of Sahel States, Democratic Relapse, Insecurity, and the Prospects of Regional (Dis)integration or (Re)integration in West Africa

Abstract Fifty years on, since the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the West African region remains fraught with multiple insecurity challenges owing to violent extremism, terrorism, and insurgencies that have led to the deaths of thousands and the forced displacement of several million. These challenges are further compounded by the recent spate of democratic relapse in the Sahel region, following the resurgence of military coups and the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in 2023, which have since formally exited the regional body as of early 2024. While previous studies have explored the subject of regional integration and the challenges faced by ECOWAS, there is no empirical study on the prospects of regional (dis)integration or (re)integration in West Africa in the wake of the AES. This paper foregrounds the need to close this gap in the literature. Drawing on secondary sources of data obtained from official reports, academic journal articles, books, and local and international news reportage, this qualitative paper shall interrogate the intersection of these complexities and the prospects of regional (dis)integration, or (re)integration, given its broader consequences for regional peace, security, and stability in West Africa.