The President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Omar Touray, has warned that the region is facing a “state of emergency,” citing mounting political and security challenges.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Mr Touray made the declaration during the 55th session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council at ministerial level in Abuja. The meeting took place against the backdrop of escalating political turmoil and diplomatic strains across several member states.
Mr Touray explained that a country-by-country assessment revealed widespread risks, including potential military interventions, the spread of terrorism, and intensifying geopolitical pressures. He noted that elections have increasingly become flashpoints for instability, with many nations experiencing what he described as an “erosion of electoral inclusivity.”
“Expanding influence of Terrorists and Armed Groups and criminal networks threatening regional stability. Increasing geopolitical pressures affecting Member States’ diplomacy and cohesion,” he said, stressing the need for urgent collective action.
“Faced with this situation, it is safe to declare that our community is in a state of emergency,” Mr Touray added.
To confront these threats, he recommended that ECOWAS convene mediation sessions more frequently, “beyond the two ordinary sessions for the next one year.” He urged member states to pool resources to tackle terrorism and banditry, which he warned operate “without respect for territorial boundaries.”
His remarks come after two military coups in West Africa within three weeks, adding to at least seven previous takeovers in recent years. In one case, President Umaro Embaló was ousted and replaced by army chief Horta Inta-A, a move that drew widespread condemnation and accusations that Embaló himself orchestrated the coup to avoid electoral defeat.
Days later, an attempted coup in Benin was thwarted by the military with ECOWAS support, underscoring the fragility of democratic institutions and the growing boldness of military factions.
Reflecting on these developments, Mr Touray urged member states to reassess the “future of our democracy and the urgent need to invest in the security of our community.” He noted that ECOWAS analyses show varying risk levels across countries, “from high to medium, with an average of high risk for our community, thereby demanding immediate and concerted action.”
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