The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced a regional state of emergency in response to the growing wave of military coups and attempted power seizures destabilising several member states.
The decision, announced by ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray during the 55th ordinary session of the Mediation and Security Council in Abuja, underscores deepening concern over the future of democratic governance and security across the sub-region.
Speaking to ministers and diplomats, Touray described the recurring unconstitutional changes of government as a grave threat to peace and democratic governance, stressing the need for “deep reflection on the future of democracy in our sub-region” and significantly increased investment in collective security mechanisms.
The declaration comes days after security forces in Benin foiled an attempted coup attempt, the latest in a string of political crises that have seen military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Niger since 2020, alongside repeated unrest in other member states.
ECOWAS leaders are expected to convene an extraordinary summit in the coming weeks to adopt concrete measures under the emergency framework, which could include strengthened sanctions, deployment of standby forces, and accelerated reforms to the bloc’s protocol on democracy and good governance.
