Sterile Diplomacy and the Resurgence of Coups in Post-Cold War Africa

Description

Page: 1755-1759

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17828506

Nancy Musoka and Kizito Sabala (Department of Diplomacy and International Studies (DDIS), Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi)

Despite progress towards democratization and a desire for good governance in Africa since the end of the Cold War, the continent has witnessed a resurgence of military coups, particularly in West Africa and the Sahel Region, casting doubt on the effectiveness of the process of democratization. This paper explores the role of what is described as “sterile diplomacy”, reactive and often symbolic diplomacy without proper execution. It explores how bad governance, weak institutions, and external pressures have allowed unconstitutional changes in the government. It is concerned with how the diplomatic bodies ECOWAS and the African Union (AU) struggled to stop and control military coups in Africa. Using qualitative analysis, the paper explores the anatomy of coups, their enablers, and the role diplomacy plays in either curbing or facilitating them. It calls for a rethinking of diplomatic engagement with an emphasize on preventive diplomacy, local ownership and credible enforcement to restore order. The central argument is that African diplomatic institutions have become sterile: normatively grounded but practically ineffective.