African Union and the Consequences of Coup d’états in West Africa

As coups profligate in Africa, there has been intense criticism of the actions that have been taken and not taken by the African Union (AU). In several instances, the AU has not been proactively involved in a manner that befits the continental organisation or its aspirations. The chapter attempts to decipher the organisational prerogatives of the AU with particular reference to coup d’états and examines the contemporary geopolitical context of coups d'états in West Africa. It further assesses the response of AU and its organs to the coup d'états in West Africa and critically explores the challenges and prospects for future AU actions against coup d'états in Africa.