The African Union’s Fading Grip: Military Coups and the Erosion of Peace and Security

• Author(s): Chinedu Okoli ; Emmanuel Mary Igbokwe
• Paper ID: 1709184
• Page: 950-957
• Published Date: 19-06-2025
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 8 Issue 12 June-2025

Abstract

The African Union (AU) inability to quell the resurging military coups that have taken over Africa, nine instances since 2020, signifies a deepening crisis in the continent of ensuring peace and security. Starting with Mali’s dual takeovers to Niger’s 2023 coup, these events have been met with suspensions and hollow communiques, which fail to stop the juntas signifying a crack in the AU’s Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). Adopting Neorealism theory, this work explores the coup wave, African Union faltering mechanisms, political disunity, and resource constraints, establishing the strained role of Nigeria as a regional leader. The data collection includes: AU reports, news archives, and scholarly critiques. The crux of the article argues that the AU’s irrelevance has harmed Nigeria, especially as it faces economic losses and threats from Niger’s junta, while Africa’s unity risks fragmentation amid rising foreign influence. The proposed reforms by the article involves not only funding, but addressing the root causes of the military coups like corruption, enforcing sanctions against coup plotters.

Keywords

African Union (AU); Military Coups; Peace and Security; Nigeria; Neorealism; Institutionalism

Citations

IRE Journals:
Chinedu Okoli , Emmanuel Mary Igbokwe "The African Union’s Fading Grip: Military Coups and the Erosion of Peace and Security" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 8 Issue 12 2025 Page 950-957

IEEE:
Chinedu Okoli , Emmanuel Mary Igbokwe "The African Union’s Fading Grip: Military Coups and the Erosion of Peace and Security" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 8(12)