AN APPRAISAL OF THE ECOWAS CONFLICT PREVENTION FRAMEWORK (ECPF) IN ADDRESSING CONFLICTS IN WEST AFRICA.

Abstract

This study appraises the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF) with a view to assessing its effectiveness in preventing, managing, and resolving conflicts in West Africa. Despite the adoption of the ECPF in 2008 as a comprehensive regional mechanism for conflict prevention, the sub-region continues to experience persistent political instability, violent extremism, coups d’état, and transnational security threats. The study specifically examines the nature of conflicts in West Africa, evaluates the effectiveness of the ECPF, and identifies the major challenges hindering its full implementation. Anchored on Structural Functional Theory, the study adopts a descriptive research design and relies exclusively on secondary sources of data, including scholarly publications, ECOWAS policy documents, and reports from regional and international organisations. Findings reveal that while the ECPF has contributed to improved early warning systems, preventive diplomacy, mediation efforts, and regional interventions as demonstrated in cases such as The Gambia’s 2017 electoral crisis and the 2012 Mali coup, its overall effectiveness remains constrained by inadequate funding, limited technical capacity, weak political will among member states, and coordination challenges. The study concludes that although the ECPF provides a robust and comprehensive framework for conflict prevention in West Africa, significant implementation gaps persist. It therefore recommends enhanced resource mobilisation through innovative funding mechanisms, sustained capacity building, and stronger institutional coordination to improve the framework’s effectiveness in addressing the region’s evolving security challenges.