USR PUBLISHER

The increasing intricacy of democratic crises, military coups, and regional security issues has heightened the necessity for foreign policy coordination within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). While French is one of the primary working languages of the organization and acts as a common diplomatic medium among various member states, its impact on regional foreign policy coordination has not been extensively explored in academic literature. This article investigates the influence of the French language on foreign policy coordination within ECOWAS through a comparative analysis of Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire from 2000 to 2025. Utilizing Social Constructivism and New Regionalism as guiding frameworks, the study employs a qualitative comparative case study approach, relying on documentary analysis of ECOWAS treaties and protocols, official publications from the governments of Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire, reports from the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, policy documents, and pertinent scholarly works. The results reveal that French facilitates diplomatic communication, institutional consultation, policy dialogue, and administrative coordination among Francophone member states. Nevertheless, the comparative evidence suggests that language alone does not dictate foreign policy behavior. Instead, effective foreign policy coordination is primarily influenced by domestic political stability, institutional capacity, leadership orientation, and aligned national strategic interests. The differing diplomatic experiences of Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire demonstrate that states with a shared linguistic and administrative background may pursue distinct regional diplomatic strategies in response to evolving domestic political circumstances. The research concludes that the French language serves mainly as a strategic diplomatic and institutional asset that promotes collaboration within ECOWAS. However, the success of regional foreign policy coordination is ultimately contingent upon robust institutions, ongoing political dedication, and the harmonization of national and regional interests.