Digital Diplomacy and Conflict Prevention in Africa: Empirical Evidence from ECOWAS Interventions

The place of digital technologies in achieving diplomatic objectives of nations cannot be over emphasized. It is against the backdrop that this research examined the role of digital diplomacy in enhancing conflict prevention efforts within the ECOWAS region. The study was guided by three research questions and anchored on the Early Warning and Response System (EWRS) theory, which emphasizes on rapid information flows for proactive conflict management. A mixed-method research design that combines both descriptive and content analytical techniques were used in the study. Findings from the study revealed that digital tools such as social media, ECOWAS’s encrypted diplomatic channels, and the ECOWARN platform, significantly accelerated crisis responses; with alerts issued 65% faster and mediator deployments improving by 36%. However, a 32% decline in alerts from rural/low-connectivity areas highlighted persistent digital divides. The analysis further demonstrated a strong positive correlation between member states’ digital engagement and early warning effectiveness: high-engagement states submitted 1.1 times more incident alerts, triggered nearly double the interventions, and achieved twice the de-escalation success rate of low-engagement peers. Regarding conflict reduction, ECOWARN-integrated responses reduced violent incidents by 17.5%, virtual mediations by 14.2%, and social media campaigns by 9.8%. These findings accentuate the effectiveness of digital diplomacy in ECOWAS conflict prevention, though infrastructural disparities constrain equitable impact reinforcing the imperative of initiatives like ECOWAS’s Digital Strategy 2025. It is therefore recommended that ECOWAS invest in expanding digital infrastructure, especially in underserved rural areas, and strengthen capacity-building initiatives to ensure more inclusive and effective participation in digital diplomacy efforts.