PREVENTION OF POST-ELECTION CONFLICT IN AFRICA: THE ROLE OF REGIONAL ECONOMIC COMMUNITIES.

Abstract

Electoral While the reintroduction of multiparty politics in the early 1990s marked a continental trend, countries like Nigeria had experienced multiparty systems as early as the post-independence era and the late 1970s, though these were often interrupted by military rule.. While elections have become a central mechanism for legitimizing political authority, they have also been accompanied by recurrent episodes of violence, intimidation, and instability. Post-election conflict undermines democratic consolidation, erodes public trust in governance, and threatens regional peace and security. This article critically examines the role of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) specifically Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Southern African Development Community (SADC), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), and Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) in preventing post-election conflict in Africa. Drawing on liberal structuralist theory, rational choice perspectives, and political economy frameworks, the study interrogates the structural causes of electoral violence, the institutional capacities of RECs, and the challenges they face in conflict prevention. Through comparative case studies and empirical analysis, the article highlights both successes and limitations of RECs in managing electoral crises. It concludes with policy recommendations for strengthening regional institutions to achieve sustainable “positive peace” in Africa, emphasizing justice, accountability, and inclusive governance as prerequisites for democratic stability.