West Africa, home to a diverse set of nations with varying political, economic, and cultural dynamics, faces significant challenges when it comes to enforcing regional norms. These norms, developed through the ECOWAS, are designed to promote stability, economic integration, and political cooperation. However, the very nature of regional norms presents difficulties when the push comes to enforce them in a region where national sovereignty remains paramount.
Regional norms are, by their very definition, not laws or mandatory policies but rather guidelines that nations in a particular region choose to adopt for mutual benefit. Regional norms are voluntary agreements and they come with the understanding that they are secondary to the overriding principle of national sovereignty. These norms are meant to serve the collective interests of member states but are, subject to the interests and decisions of each individual country.
When it comes to enforcement, the dilemma arises from the tension between these voluntary agreements and the core values of national sovereignty. A government that feels its sovereignty is being threatened or undermined by regional pressure may resist adhering to these norms, particularly if it perceives them as conflicting with national interests or as a violation of its own political will.
The role of ECOWAS in enforcing regional norms, particularly the Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, illustrates the challenges of balancing cooperation and sovereignty. While this protocol has been an essential tool in promoting democratic principles in the region, it has also highlighted some of the more difficult consequences of trying to enforce such norms across a diverse group of states.
From 2020 to 2023, the region witnessed military coups that ousted civilian governments in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Niger. This confronted the ECOWAS with the dilemma of enforcing varying measures including sanctions, suspension and even the threat of intervention in order to achieve compliance with the Protocol on Democracy. However, this insistence on enforcing the protocol led to unintended consequences that undermine the broader regional agenda. Three member states – Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger opted out and formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
One of the most immediate impacts of enforcement attempts has been the schisms created within ECOWAS itself. Some member states like Nigeria support the protocol’s enforcement, seeing it as a necessary mechanism for promoting democracy and political stability in the region. However, Mali, Nigeria and Burkina Faso resisted interventions. These divides weakened the cohesion and contracted the size of the of the organization from 15 to 12 states.
The strong push for adherence to democratic norms overshadowed other critical regional initiatives, such as economic integration, security cooperation, and free movement. For instance, the insistence on enforcing political norms has now led to disruptions in the free movement of people across borders, as ECOWAS and AES countries may impose restrictions on travel and trade. This directly contradicts the ECOWAS vision of a West Africa characterized by free movement of people, goods, and services.
Subsidiary to this, the emphasis on political governance diverted attention from vital areas such as agriculture, trade agreements, and currency initiatives that are crucial for the region’s development. West Africa’s agricultural sector, for example, will suffer when countries turn inward or close their borders to trade as a result of political instability as well as undermine long-term growth prospects.
West Africa has also faced setbacks in its security cooperation efforts. The security landscape in the region is complex, with numerous challenges such as terrorism, insurgencies, and regional conflicts. The ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance has created divisions in how countries view interventions, with some members prioritizing national security and others focusing on the political stability dictated by ECOWAS standards.
The overarching question remains: Why has ECOWAS’ insistence on enforcing the Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance led to such setbacks in regional cooperation? The fundamental issue is the tension between ECOWAS’ political and economic objectives. While the organization was founded with economic cooperation as a key goal, it is now often caught between its role as a regional political body and its economic mandates. Efforts to enforce democratic governance can detract from the organization’s original economic mission, particularly in times of political turmoil.
Another challenge is the limitation of ECOWAS’ enforcement mechanisms. While the organization can impose sanctions or call for military interventions, these tools are not always effective in bringing about meaningful change. Moreover, they can provoke negative reactions from member states just like the AES’.
Enforcing regional norms in West Africa is a complex and delicate matter. While norms such as democracy and good governance are crucial to the region’s long-term stability, the insistence on enforcement often clashes with the region’s overarching goals of economic integration, free trade, and security cooperation. The imposition of these norms, when coupled with the fundamental challenge of respecting national sovereignty, has led to breakaway of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from ECOWAS, thus, undermining decades of efforts toward greater integration, unity and progress.
The struggle to enforce regional norms raises important questions about the future of ECOWAS and other regional organizations. How can regional cooperation move forward in such a context of tension? The path ahead will require balancing the imperatives of political stability with the equally important goals of economic development and regional unity. It is clear that more flexible, context-sensitive approaches may be necessary for West Africa to achieve sustainable growth and peace in a rapidly changing political landscape.
