POLITICAL POWER, AUTHORITY AND LEGITIMACY: ANALYSINGTHE INCONSISTENCY OF MILITARY RULE WITH DEMOCRATICGOVERNANCE IN WEST AFRICA

Abstract

On January 28, 2024, the media came alive with the news of the three Francophone West
African countries leaving the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Before this, the military junta of the Niger Republic had approached the ECOWAS Court of
Justice praying for the lift of sanctions imposed upon them by the ECOWAS, the quest to lift
these sanctions failed because the court made it clear that it recognizes only democratic
government as the only legitimate government. The three questions that this article seeks to
answer are whether there is any country in West Africa with a democratic military government,
whether the military juntas of these countries can withdraw from ECOWAS through media
announcements, and whether their withdrawal from ECOWAS has implications. To answer
these questions, this article examines the concept of political power, authority, and legitimacy
by adopting theoretical and doctrinal study of primary sources and secondary sources. This
study examines and evaluates information and provisions contained in international treaties,
conventions and protocols, journal articles, books, newspapers, and materials sourced from the
internet.