The Power of Regional Economic Communities: predicting future trends and mitigating the phenomenon of unconstitutional power alteration in Africa

The document analyzes three generations of unconstitutional power shifts in Africa, from post-independence coups to modern manipulations of term limits and 'models' of military intervention. It argues that while Regional Economic Communities (RECs) like ECOWAS and SADC have the potential to mitigate these trends through sanctions and democratic protocols, their effectiveness is hindered by state sovereignty, inconsistent implementation of laws, and the influence of powerful regional leaders who support usurpers. The authors recommend that RECs focus on root causes—such as socioeconomic stagnation and weak institutions—and encourage the ratification of the AU Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

• Unconstitutional power alternations in Africa are categorized into three generations: the first (post-independence 1960s) characterized by coups against independence leaders; the second (post-Cold War 1990s) marked by a 'third wave of democracy' often masked by ethnic patronage and flawed elections; and the third (2000s) featuring three distinct phases.
• The third generation of power alternations includes the manipulation of constitutional rules via referendums to extend term limits, electoral irregularities, and various coup models, such as the 'Mauritanian model' (direct military rule), the 'Madagascar model' (military instating a civilian), and the 'Guinean model' (hijacking presidential succession processes).
• Regional Economic Communities (RECs) are essential for African integration and stability, as political instability makes sub-regions unattractive for trade and investment. However, their power is limited because they are 'states writ', possessing only the authority granted by member states.
• The effectiveness of RECs in mitigating unconstitutional changes is undermined by several factors: the lack of domestic incorporation of regional protocols (e.g., in ECOWAS), the use of 'smart sanctions' that may not deter popular usurpers, and interference from powerful leaders like Muammar al-Gaddaffi and Abdoulaye Wade who have supported juntas.
• To prevent unconstitutional takeovers, RECs must address root causes, including socioeconomic stagnation, corruption, and weak institutions, while promoting the active participation of civil society and the ratification of the AU Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

APA

Darkwa, L., & Attuquayefio, P. (2009). The Power of Regional Economic Communities: predicting future trends and mitigating the phenomenon of unconstitutional power alteration in Africa. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/30OCT09.PDF

Chicago

Darkwa, Linda, and Philip Attuquayefio. The Power of Regional Economic Communities: predicting future trends and mitigating the phenomenon of unconstitutional power alteration in Africa. Institute for Security Studies, 2009. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/30OCT09.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Darkwa |first1=Linda |last2=Attuquayefio |first2=Philip |title=The Power of Regional Economic Communities: predicting future trends and mitigating the phenomenon of unconstitutional power alteration in Africa |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=30 October 2009 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/30OCT09.PDF |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{darkwa2009power, author = {Darkwa, Linda and Attuquayefio, Philip}, title = {{The Power of Regional Economic Communities: predicting future trends and mitigating the phenomenon of unconstitutional power alteration in Africa}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2009}, month = oct, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/30OCT09.PDF}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }