The Economic Community of West African States has declared a regional security emergency, citing a wave of coups, attempted mutinies, and escalating instability across the sub-region.
The declaration follows growing alarm within the bloc as political upheavals, military insurrections, and governance breakdowns continue to threaten collective stability and undermine democratic norms among its member states.
Speaking at the 55th session of the Mediation and Security Council at the ministerial level in Abuja on Tuesday, ECOWAS Commission President, Omar Touray, warned that recent political and security developments demand a deeper reflection on the state of democracy in the region and a stronger commitment to safeguarding the community’s security.
Addressing ministers, diplomats and senior officials, he delivered a sobering assessment of West Africa’s political landscape, citing multiple incidents that point to a rapidly worsening security environment.
The Chairman noted that documents before the ministers show ECOWAS member states now carry an average risk rating of “high,” based on country-by-country analyses.
Touray identified several major drivers of instability across the region, including a resurgence of military interventions citing recent events in Guinea-Bissau and the Republic of Benin — and ongoing violations of transition agreements in Guinea, where the military leadership is attempting to consolidate civilian authority.
He highlighted that the erosion of electoral inclusivity in several countries, the expansion of terrorist and criminal networks, and intensifying geopolitical pressures straining diplomatic cohesion within the bloc.
“One of the most troubling trends is that elections have become a major trigger of instability in our community,” the chairman stressed.
He referenced the recent attempted coups and ongoing engagements with the Alliance of Sahel States, which, he said, demonstrate the urgent need for a coordinated regional response to terrorism and cross-border organised crime.
“Faced with this situation, Excellencies, it is safe to declare that our community is in a state of emergency,” Touray stated.
To confront the escalating threats, the chairman urged more frequent meetings of the Mediation and Security Council over the next year, stressing the urgency for ECOWAS to strengthen collective action against terrorism and banditry, which continue to operate across borders with increasing intensity.
He outlined key priority areas that require sustained ministerial attention, including the political crisis in Guinea-Bissau, ongoing transition processes, rising levels of political exclusion, and the imperative of safeguarding regional unity amid mounting external pressures.
Touray also emphasized over the region’s worsening humanitarian crisis, drawing on recent UNHCR data showing that, as of October 2025, approximately 7.6 million people were forcibly displaced across West Africa.
Of this figure, more than 6.5 million are internally displaced persons, with Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali hosting the largest affected populations. Niger, Mali, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo also account for the highest numbers of asylum seekers.
“We must therefore take decisions and actions that will reverse this trend,” he said.
Despite the gravity of the challenges, the ECOWAS Commission President reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to its citizens.
“Let me assure our community citizens that we will not rest on our oars. We will continue to work harder to promote a peaceful, stable and stronger region for the overall benefit of Community citizens.
“Let us all remain committed to preserving regional unity, advancing peace and upholding the Community’s Constitutional Convergence Principles,” Touray asserted.
