Since the end of the Cold War, African regional organizations have increasingly engaged in interventions within member states, marking a shift from the non-interference principle of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to the African Union's conditional approach to state sovereignty based on governance standards. The African Union has not only conducted peacekeeping missions but has also become active in mediating political crises, particularly during election-related violence and following coups d’état. This evolution reflects a significant departure from the OAU and highlights challenges in establishing new continental norms. The central argument presented is that the African Union's ability to define an acceptable return to constitutional order is influenced by internal negotiations within the AU and interactions with international actors and local contexts. The discussion begins with an analysis of the continuities and changes in responses to recent coups in Africa, examining institutional mechanisms, actors, and potential conflicts. It then focuses on specific cases, such as Mauritania and Guinea, to illustrate the competing propositions for restoring constitutional order and the major areas of contention that arose during these interventions. Finally, insights from various cases will be synthesized to propose a tentative analytical framework for understanding the processes and mechanisms that shape definitions of acce
