Commission President Cites ‘High Risk’ Environment, Warns Elections Now Instability Triggers
ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has formally declared a state of emergency across the entire West African region, a dramatic move signaling the bloc’s heightened concern over escalating political instability and security threats.
The declaration was made on Tuesday by Dr. Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, during the 55th session of the Mediation and Security Council at the ministerial level, held in Abuja.
Driven by Coups and Worsening Insecurity
The meeting was urgently convened following a series of successful military coups and botched mutinies that have rocked the sub-region in recent times, most notably the military intervention in Guinea-Bissau and a recent attempted coup in the Republic of Benin.
Touray delivered a sobering assessment of the situation, stating that recent events underscore the “imperative of serious introspection on the future of our democracy and the urgent need to invest in the security of our community.”
He warned that country-by-country analyses presented to the ministers show a general status of “high risk” across the community, necessitating immediate and concerted action.
Key Risk Factors Outlined by ECOWAS
The ECOWAS Commission President outlined several major risk factors driving the community into this state of emergency:
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Persistence of Military Interventions: Citing recent examples in Guinea-Bissau and Benin.
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Non-Compliance with Transition Norms: Specifically referencing concerns over military leaders in countries like Guinea potentially turning civilian.
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Erosion of Electoral Inclusivity: Warning that the fairness of elections is diminishing across multiple states.
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Expanding Influence of Armed Groups: Highlighting the growing reach of terrorists, armed groups, and criminal networks.
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Elections as a Major Trigger: Touray lamented that “elections have become a major trigger of instability in our community,” despite the bloc’s efforts to promote constitutional principles.
Implications and Next Steps
The declaration of a state of emergency is seen as an attempt by ECOWAS to restore its credibility and signal a more decisive approach to confronting threats to constitutional order, particularly after the withdrawal of key members like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
The Ministerial Council meeting precedes the gathering of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, who are expected to deliberate on the Council’s recommendations. The declaration is expected to pave the way for accelerated efforts, including:
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More frequent meetings of the Mediation and Security Council.
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Increased pooling of resources to confront terrorism and cross-border crime.
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Sustained efforts to manage political transitions and safeguard constitutional norms.
Touray concluded by urging member states to uphold unity, stressing the humanitarian crisis where approximately 7.6 million individuals are currently forcibly displaced across the region.
