From ECOWAS to the Alliance of Sahel States: Shifting Security Architectures in West Africa

West Africa has undergone a significant reconfiguration of regional security governance following the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the subsequent establishment of the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS). The study examines the growing divergence between ECOWAS and ASS in terms of mandate, legitimacy, and operational effectiveness, and analyses the political, security, geopolitical, and socio-economic forces driving the shift. Drawing on an integrative framework combining Regional Security Complex Theory, Institutionalism, Realism, and Constructivism, the study shows how competing institutional logics and legitimacy narratives are reshaping patterns of authority in West Africa’s security architecture. Using documentary analysis, conflict event data, official statements, policies, and joint communiqués, the study finds that while ECOWAS retains formal legal authority and institutional capacity, ASS has cultivated domestic legitimacy and unity by prioritising sovereignty, regime security, and resistance to external influence. The dynamics highlight strains between democratic conditionality and non-interference, regional integration and state autonomy, and multilateral governance and regime survival. The study argues that the coexistence of parallel security institutions risks fragmenting collective responses to extremism, border insecurity, and humanitarian crises, while reflecting broader transformations in Africa’s regional order. The study concludes with policy recommendations for reconciling divergent governance norms, strengthening institutional resilience, and fostering adaptive and inclusive security governance frameworks capable of addressing the evolving threat environment of West Africa.

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Alliance of Sahel States (ASS), West Africa Security

1. ACLED. (2026). Africa Overview: May 2025. https://acleddata.com/update/africa-overview-may-2025 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Adams, J., Ashibi, J., George, O., & Ashibi, P. O. (2025). Resurgence of military coups in Africa: Implications for democratic governance. African Journal of Social Issues, 8(1), 294–305. https://doi.org/10.4314/ajosi.v8i1.18 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Adjei Arhin, C. (2025). A Theoretical Analysis of Security-Led Integration: The Case of Alliance of Sahel States (AES). International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, Clement-Adjei Arhin. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.909000277 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. African Security Analysis. (2025). Russia–AES military cooperation: Developments and regional context. https://www.africansecurityanalysis.com/updates/russia-aes-military-cooperation-developments-and-regional-context [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Agbo, U. J., Lenshie, N. E., Boye, R. R., & Department of Political Science, Yobe State University, Damaturu, Nigeria, Email: brajirafiu@yahoomail.com. (2018). West Africa: From peacekeeping to peace enforcement. ECOWAS and the regulations of regional security. Conflict Studies Quarterly, 22, 18–35. https://doi.org/10.24193/csq.22.2 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Ahmed, F. (2025). Changing alliances: A critical analysis of France’s exit from francophone Africa. Democracy in Africa. https://democracyinafrica.org/changing-alliances-a-critical- analysis-of- frances-exit-from-francophone-africa/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Aning, K., & Bjarnesen, J. (2024). ECOWAS’ dilemma: Balancing principles and pragmatism: West Africa’s regional bloc faces disintegration after failed sanctions against military regimes. The Nordic Africa Institute. https://nai.uu.se/stories-and-events/news/2024-04-10 -ecowas-dilemma- balancing-principles-and-pragmatism.html [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Annafa, E. F., Tagowa, W. N., & Maikomo, J. M. (2025). The efficacy of ECOWAS sanctions on member states. International Journal of Innovative Legal & Political Studies, 13(2), 110–114. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.15638097 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Avoulete, K. (2025). West Africa: Will ECOWAS survive until 2030? Foreign Policy Research Institute. https://allafrica.com/stories/202505230026.html [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Bassou, A. (2024). From the Alliance of Sahel States to the Confederation of Sahel States: The road is clear, but full of traps. Policy Centrer for the New South. https://www.policycenter.ma/sites/default/files/2024-04/PB_19-24_Bassou%20EN.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Bonner, I. (2025). Climate-related security risks in the Sahel. Journal of Central and Eastern European African Studies, 5(2), 72–83. https://doi.org/10.12700/jceeas.2025.5.2.317 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Buzan, B., & Wæver, O. (2003). Regional security complex theory in the post-cold war world. In F. Söderbaum & T. M. Shaw (Eds), Theories of New Regionalism (pp. 140–159). Palgrave Macmillan UK. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781403938794_8 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Center for Preventive Action. (2025). Violent extremism in the Sahel. Global Conflict Tracker. https://cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/violent-extremism-sahel [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Charbonneau, B. (2021). Counter-insurgency governance in the Sahel. International Affairs, 97(6), 1805–1823. https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiab182 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Diallo, M. A. (2025). Insecurity and institutional trust in the context of a coup d’état: The case of Mali. Afrobarometer. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. East African Policy Observer. (2025). A critical assessment of ECOWAS’ role in safeguarding democracy in West Africa. https://eastafricanpolicyobserver.org/policy-brief/a- critical-assessment-of-ecowas-role-in-safeguarding-democracy-in-west-africa/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. ECOWAS Commission. (1993). ECOWAS revised treaty. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Edobor, J. (2024). Harnessing the benefits of regional integration schemes in ECOWAS: The place of individuals in the 21st century. UCC Law Journal, 3(2), 1–42. https://doi.org/10.47963/ucclj.v3i2.1358 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Faulkner, C. M., & Parens, R. (2025). Russia in Africa: Private military proxies in the Sahel. Georgetown Journal of International Affairs. https://gjia.georgetown.edu/2025/03/24/russia-in-africa-private-military-proxies-in-the-sahel/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Gideon, G. L., Oke, C. I. A., & Aduloju, A. A. (2025). Regionalism in crisis: Patronage, elite politics, and the fragmentation of West African integration. Journal of Global Faultlines, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.13169/jglobfaul.12.1.0007 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Haruna, A. I. (2024). ECOWAS sanctions and the Alliance of Sahel States: A new power struggle? Modern Ghana. https://www.modernghana.com/news/1348894/ecowas- sanctions-and-the-alliance-of-sahel-states.html [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Institute for Economics & Peace. (2025). Global terrorism index 2025: Measuring the impact of terrorism. https://reliefweb.int/report/world/global-terrorism-index-2025 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. IOM. (2026). West and Central Africa—Liptako Gourma and Central Sahel Crisis Dashboard 64 (December 2025). International Organization for Migration. https://dtm.iom.int/reports/west-and- central-africa-liptako-gourma-and-central-sahel-crisis-dashboard-64-december-2025 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Keohane, R. O. (1984). After hegemony: Cooperation and discord in the world political economy (1st Princeton classic ed). Princeton University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Ladan, M. T. (2021). ECOWAS treaty and state sovereignty: Redefining constitutional parameters of nationhood (SSRN Scholarly Paper No. 4020809). Social Science Research Network. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4020809 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Najimdeen, H. A. (2025). The Sahel’s shifting sands: How security landscape is redrawing regional alliances. Al Jazeera Centre for Studies. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Njie, V. (2025). Effectiveness of ECOWAS in mitigating coups in West Africa: Is ECOWAS handling of coups in West Africa effective? The cases of Mali and Guinea (2020 – 2024) [University of Pavia]. https://unitesi.unipv.it/retrieve/2afc5312-41e7-4ec4-a43b-8a84bd80e812/FINAL%20THESIS-%20VERONIC%20NJIE.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Obinna, G. S., & Okeh, G. C. (2025). ECOWAS and military interventions and political instability in West Africa: The Burkina Faso experience. Journal of Political Science and Leadership Research, 11(11). https://iiardjournals.org/get/JPSLR/VOL.%2011%20NO. %2011%202025/ECOWAS%20 AND%20MILITARY%20INTERVENTIONS%2021-36.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Omowon, A. A., & Sholademi, D. B. (2025). Shifting alliances: The role of non-regional powers in sahel security after ECOWAS departures. International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 14(2), 592–611. https://doi.org/10.30574/ijsra.2025.14.2.0426 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Opoku-Aikins, M. (2019). A comparative study of ECOWAS’ interventions in Liberia (1989), Sierra Leone (1997) and The Gambia (2017) [Tampere University]. https://trepo.tuni.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/105775/1558079472.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Osuchukwu, C. N., Iteke, W. C., & Emesiani, I. G. (2025). The Alliance of Sahel States and the future of West African regional integration. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5283877 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Pigeaud, F., & Sylla, N. S. (2024). The revolt against Françafrique: What is behind the “Anti-French” sentiment? Agrarian South: Journal of Political Economy: A Triannual Journal of Agrarian South Network and CARES, 13(2), 218–237. https://doi.org/10.1177/22779760241256203 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Security Council Report. (2025). West Africa and the Sahel. Security Council Report. https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/monthly-forecast/2025-08/un-office-for-west-africa-and-the-sahel-unowas.php [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. Thucydides. (431 C.E.). The history of the Peloponnesian War (R. Crawley, Trans.; American ed.). E. P. Dutton & Co. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. Tietze, H. (2026). China’s arms exports and security engagement in the Sahel: Trends and political consequences, 2010–2024. Journal of Central and Eastern European African Studies, 5(4), 54–74. https://doi.org/10.12700/jceeas.2025.5.4.446 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. UNHCR. (2025). UNHCR highlights forced displacement trends, protection risks, and solutions in West and Central Africa. UNHCR Africa. https://www.unhcr.org/africa/news/press-releases/ unhcr-highlights-forced-displacement-trends-protection-risks-and-solutions-west [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. Vaz, R. (2025). The Sahel seeks sovereignty. Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. https://thetricontinental.org/dossier-sahel-alliance-sovereignty/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

38. Wendt, A. (Ed.). (1999). Social theory of international politics. Cambridge University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• The Impact of Ownership Structure on Dividend Payout Policy of Listed Plantation Companies in Sri Lanka
• Urban Sustainability in North-East India: A Study through the lens of NER-SDG index
• Performance Assessment of Predictive Forecasting Techniques for Enhancing Hospital Supply Chain Efficiency in Healthcare Logistics
• The Fractured Self in Julian Barnes' Postmodern Fiction: Identity Crisis and Deflation in Metroland and the Sense of an Ending
• Impact of Flood on the Employment, Labour Productivity and Migration of Agricultural Labour in North Bihar