2001
Adoption of the Protocol
12
Member States concerned
50+
Articles on governance
0
Tolerance for coups d'état
GOVERNANCE
The Pillars of Democratic Governance.
Constitutional Democracy
Every accession to power must take place through free, transparent and democratic elections. Unconstitutional changes of government are prohibited.
Separation of Powers
Independence of the executive, legislative and judicial branches. Institutional balance and mutual checks on power.
Human Rights
Protection of fundamental freedoms, prohibition of torture, freedom of expression, of the press and of association.
Rule of Law
Supremacy of the law, equality before the law, access to justice and the fight against impunity.
SANCTION MECHANISMS
Responses to Political Crises
Suspension
from the institutions for the defaulting State
Sanctions
economic and diplomatic
ELECTIONS
ECOWAS Election Observation
ECOWAS deploys election observation missions in Member States to ensure transparent, credible and fair elections. These missions help strengthen democracy across the region.