AUTHORITARIAN SOLIDARITY IN WEST AFRICA: THE ALLIANCE OF SAHEL STATES

ABSTRACT The series of military coups that occurred in West Africa between 2020 and 2023 resulted in the ascendance of more authoritarian regimes within the region. The establishment of junta regimes in Mali (2021), Burkina Faso (2022), and Niger (2023) has given rise to concerns regarding the democratic future of the region. The threat of military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the aftermath of the coup in Niger has resulted in a rupture in relations and an acceleration in the process of these countries forming a defence pact. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which oppose France’s military presence in the Sahel and ECOWAS, have formed an alliance that prioritizes the security and stability of their regimes. The junta regimes in these countries have implemented policies that restrict freedoms under the guise of protecting internal security and combating terrorism. Concurrently, these governments have rejected criticism from Western countries and have become increasingly unified in their stance. When the Sahel states alliance is evaluated in the context of the authoritarian solidarity approach, it becomes evident that the regimes in the region are trying to maintain their power and legitimize their authoritarian rule by providing each other with economic, military and diplomatic support. In particular, anti-Western discourses, security cooperation and the support of military regimes for one another represent the fundamental elements of this solidarity. This circumstance provides insight into how authoritarian regimes endure and interact in the Sahel region. This study emphasizes that authoritarian regimes are not always in competition with one another, but rather exhibit solidarity, especially when dealing with existential threats. Keywords: The Alliance of Sahel States, The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Authoritarian Solidarity, Western Africa, Coup d'état