West Africa Coup Surge Threatens Regional Stability
On November 26, 2025, Guinea-Bissau became the fifth West African nation since 2020 to experience a successful military coup, following a thwarted attempt in Benin. This expansion of the coup belt signals a collapse of political legitimacy and constitutional order across the subregion. According to the Institute for Security Studies, coups reflect systemic corruption and a crisis where civilian governments fail to meet citizens' expectations. ECOWAS's inconsistent response—sanctions for coups but silence for constitutional power grabs—has eroded trust. The formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which imposed trade barriers on ECOWAS, further fragments the bloc. With 7.6 million West Africans displaced and economies strained, citizens face deteriorating living standards. Will these coups accelerate regional disintegration, or can ECOWAS reform its approach to restore democratic governance?