Submit your papersSubmit Now
For Enquiries: [email protected]
IIARD LogoIIARD

The Emergence of the Alliance of Sahel States and Its Implications for Regional Integration in West Africa

Amadi Clement Junior Ogali Matthew PhD, .

Abstract

The paper examined the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States and its implications for regional integration in West Africa. The theoretical framework adopted was the regional security complex theory. Secondary data such as scholarly literature, academic journals, official documents and media reports were used as sources of data and content analysis was used to analyze them. The findings showed that the formation of AES was caused by several factors, such as the re-emergence of military coups in the Sahel, discontent with ECOWAS sanctions and diplomatic policies, the increasing security threats of terrorism and insurgency, anti-Western sentiments, survival of regimes, external geopolitical realignments, and internal economic pressures. Implication wise, the paper established that the establishment of AES presents a significant challenge to regional integration in West Africa by disintegrating political unity, eroding ECOWAS institutional power and establishing rival security institutions in the sub-region. The exit of the AES member states also poses a threat to the economic cooperation programs including the trade liberalization and free movement agreement of ECOWAS. This paper concluded that the future of West African regional integration would be greatly dependent on how the member states of the ECOWAS and AES are able to balance their sovereignty issues and the need to work collectively. Among the recommendations presented in the paper are diplomatic discussions with the member states of AES, enhancing regional security systems and reinforcing economic systems, including the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme.

Keywords

Alliance of Sahel StatesECOWASRegional IntegrationSahelMilitary CoupsWest Africa.

References

Abaneme, A. O., Mgbachi, P. U., & Abaneme, E. C. (2024). Challenges of Economic Community of West African States on promotion of democracy and good governance in West African Sub-Region. Alvan Journal of Social Sciences, 1(1), 1-16. Adetula, V., Bereketeab, R., & Obi, C. (2021). Regional economic communities and peacebuilding in Africa. Taylor & Francis. Adetuyi, A. (2022). Resurgence of military coups in Africa: Reassessing the role of the African Union and ECOWAS. Tana Papers. Adu, Y.N., Mezyaev, A.B. (2024). Political turmoil in ECOWAS: When politics prevails over law. Journal of the Institute for African Studies, 2, 102– 117. https://doi.org/10.31132/2412-5717-2024-67-2-102-117. Aina, F., Afolabi, B., & Fayemi, J. K. (2025). The Alliance of Sahel States, democratic relapse, insecurity, and the prospects of regional integration or (re) integration in West Africa. Society, 1-15. Akinlabi, A. A. (2025). French Operation Barkhane: A litmus test for EU–AU security cooperation. African Journal of Political Science, 13(1), 84–90. Akinyemi, O., Apeloko, D. O., Osimen, G. U., & Chukwudi, C. E. (2024). The Economic Community of West African States and the resurgence of military coups in West Africa. Journal of African Union Studies, 13(2), 67-89. Aljazeera. (2022). Burkina Faso’s coup and political situation: All you need to know. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/5/coup-in-burkina-faso-what-you-need-to- know. Aljazeera. (2023). Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso establish Sahel security alliance. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/16/mali-niger-and-burkina-faso-establish- sahel-security-alliance. Aljazeera. (2024). Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso announce withdrawal from ECOWAS. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/28/niger-mali-burkina-faso-announce- withdrawal-from-ecowas. Anikwe, J. A., Ogbuka, I. M., & Nnamani, F. V. (2024). Evaluating the re-emergence of coup d’etat and the democratic consolidation in West Africa: a critical analysis. IAA Journal of Social Sciences, 10(1), 52-64. Arhin, C. A. (2025). A theoretical analysis of security-led integration: The Case of Alliance of Sahel States . International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 9(9), 3276-3288. https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.909000277. Atufe-Musa, V. E., Sanubi, F. A., & Orhero, A. E. (2025). Resurgence of coups in West Africa and Sahel Alliance implications. Qualitative Research of Business and Social Sciences, 3(1), 51-66. BBC News. (2021). Mali names coup leader Col Assimi Goita as transitional president. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57290761. Buzan, B., & Waever, O. (2003). Regions and powers: The structure of international security (Vol. 91). Cambridge University Press. Chigozie, C. F., & Oyinmiebi, P. T. (2022). Resurgence of military coups in West Africa: Implications for ECOWAS. African Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research, 5(2), 52-64. Council on Foreign Relations. (2026). Violent extremism in the Sahel. https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/violent-extremism-sahel? DeAngelo, M. (2025, March 3). Counterterrorism shortcomings in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Foreign Policy Research Institute. https://www.fpri.org/article/2025/03/counterterrorism-shortcomings-in-mali-burkina- faso-and-niger/? E-ISSN 2504-883X P-ISSN 2695 2432 Haas, E. (1971). Beyond the Nation States: Functionalism and international organization. Stanford University Press. Ibrahim, S. G., & Obiageli, N. L. (2017). ECOWAS treatise and protocols: Impact on regional cooperation and integration in West Africa. Journal of Economics Bibliography, 4(3), 222-233. Kazeem, O. S. (2024). Dynamics of conflict in the Sahel: Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Fuoye Journal of Criminology and Security Studies, 3(2), 58- 79. Mohammed, A., & Arabo, A. U. (2024). Regional stability and integration: The implications of the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS. ISRG Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, 2(6), 175-180. Nwagbo-Samuel, N. C., & Ofoke, I. I. (2025). Resurgence of coup d’état in West Africa and democratic consolidation: Assessing the role of ECOWAS. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science , 9(4), 4264- 4277. Nwaorgu, O. C. (2006). Monopoly capitalism and the development tragedy. Amajov and Coy Nigeria. Ochieng, B. (2022). Burkina Faso coup: Why soldiers have overthrown President Kaboré. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-60112043. Odigbo, J., Ezekwelu, K. C., & Okeke, R. C. (2023). Democracy’s discontent and the resurgence of military coups in Africa. Journal of Contemporary International Relations and Diplomacy, 4(1), 644-655. Olubiyo, K. G., & Ayodele, I. O. A. (2024). Beyond sanctions: ECOWAS and the resurgence of military coups in West Africa. ABUAD Journal of Social and Management Sciences, 5(2), 341-357. Oluyemi, O. A., & Aidi, Y. B. (2026). Regional integration in crisis: Dissecting the implications of the Sahelian withdrawal from ECOWAS. International Journal of Social Sciences and Management Review, 9(2), 661- 679 Onapajo, H., & Babalola, D. (2024). ECOWAS and the challenge of preventing a resurgence of coups d’état in West Africa: An assessment of the ‘zero tolerance policy’. South African Journal of International Affairs, 31(1), 23-44. Osuchukwu, C. N., Iteke, W. C., & Emesiani, I. G. (2025). The Alliance of Sahel States and the future of West African regional integration. Direct Research Journal of Social Science and Educational Studies, 13(1), 27-38. Raleigh, C., Nsaibia, H., & Dowd, C. (2021). The Sahel crisis since 2012. African affairs, 120(478), 123-143. Solaru, O. E. S., & Amodu, A. A. (2025). An appraisal of ECOWAS in the 2023 military intervention in Niger Republic’s politics. African Journal of Stability and Development , 17(1), 391-405. Stronski, P. (2023). Russia’s growing footprint in Africa’s Sahel region. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2023/02/russias- growing-footprint-in-africas-sahel-region?center=middle-east Warleigh‐Lack, A., & Rosamond, B. (2010). Across the EU studies–new regionalism frontier: invitation to a dialogue. Journal of Common Market Studies, 48(4), 993-1013. Warleigh‐Lack, A., & Van Langenhove, L. (2010). Rethinking EU studies: The contribution of comparative regionalism. Journal of European Integration, 32(6), 541-562. Whitman, D. (2024). The West’s loss of the Sahel: Not Russia’s doing. Foreign Policy Research Institute. https://www.fpri.org/article/2024/07/the-wests-loss-of-the-sahel- not-only-russias-doing/ Zhang, C., & Poulin, M. (2025). Exploring the causes of military coups in three Francophone West African countries since 2020: A class analysis based on the centre-periphery relationship. International Critical Thought, 15(2), 320-338.

More Articles from JOURNAL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND LEADERSHIP RESEARCH

The Political Economy of Party Defection in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic

Author: Michun Wakili Dickson, Sabo Okonu 3Irene Chinasa Kekeocha-Christopher

Leadership Support Systems and Organizational Growth in Deposit Money Banks: Evidence from Rivers State, Nigeria

Author: Anireh, Uchenna Nicholas, Onwuanaku, Blessing, Happiness Nwanyi Elekwachi

The Challenges of Adopting the Responsibility to Protect in the Russian/Ukraine War

Author: Richard ThankGod Wabali Chimezie Chukwuemeka Eze