The Alliance of Sahel States and the Challenges to African Regional Integration: Implications for the African Union and ECOWAS

Abstract

The military coup in the Republic of Guinea and, more specifically, the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), composed of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, represents one of the deepest political and institutional ruptures within the space of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and, consequently, a direct challenge to the African Union (AU). The crisis reveals itself not only as a process of strategic and security realignment, but also as a reflection of the fragility of regional institutions in the face of the rise of military governments, the growing presence of external paramilitary groups—such as those of Russian origin—and the worsening of social and humanitarian instability. This study critically analyzes the historical antecedents that led to the emergence of the AES, the immediate consequences for African regional integration, and the impacts on the AU and sub-regional organizations, particularly ECOWAS. It also examines the role that the current AU Chairperson, João Lourenço, may play in mediating the dual crises in the Sahel and in future negotiations between regional blocs. The research is based on official reports, primary and secondary sources, as well as recent academic studies, providing a comprehensive view of the challenges and possibilities for the reconfiguration of the African political space in the contemporary context.