The Economic Community of West African States has declared a state of emergency across the West African sub-region, citing worsening political instability, security threats and the erosion of democratic norms.
The declaration was made on Tuesday in Abuja by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, during the 55th session of the Mediation and Security Council at the ministerial level.
Touray told ministers, diplomats and senior regional officials that recent events across member states point to a rapidly deteriorating security and political environment requiring urgent collective action.
“Recent developments compel us to seriously reflect on the future of democracy in our region and the urgent necessity to invest more deliberately in the security of our community,” he said.
According to Touray, internal assessments presented to the council show that many ECOWAS countries are currently classified as being at medium to high risk, with an overall average risk level described as high.
“The country-by-country analyses indicate varying risk levels, ranging from medium to high, but with an overall assessment of high risk. This situation demands immediate and coordinated intervention,” he noted.
He attributed the growing instability to a combination of factors, including military interventions in some member states, stalled political transitions, shrinking electoral inclusivity, and the expanding influence of terrorist groups and criminal networks.
Touray also warned that elections, once seen as stabilising democratic tools, have increasingly become flashpoints for violence and unrest across the region.
“Elections are now emerging as a major catalyst for instability in our community,” he said, referencing recent coup attempts and political crises in parts of West Africa.
Declaring the moment unprecedented, the ECOWAS Commission president stated, “Given the gravity of the situation, it is safe to say that our community is officially in a state of emergency.”
He called for more frequent meetings of the Mediation and Security Council in the coming year and urged member states to pool resources to tackle terrorism, banditry and cross-border criminal activities that operate beyond national boundaries.
Touray identified priority areas requiring sustained attention, including the political situation in Guinea-Bissau, the management of ongoing transitions, rising political exclusion and growing geopolitical pressures threatening regional cohesion.
On the humanitarian front, he revealed that displacement across West Africa has reached alarming levels. Citing data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Touray said more than 7.6 million people were forcibly displaced in the region as of October 2025.
“Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali account for the largest numbers of internally displaced persons, while countries such as Niger, Mali, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo currently host the highest number of asylum seekers,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Touray reassured citizens of the sub-region of ECOWAS’s continued commitment to peace and stability.
“We will not relent in our efforts. We remain dedicated to building a peaceful, stable and stronger West Africa for the benefit of all our people,” he added.
He also urged member states to remain committed to constitutional governance and regional unity.
In his remarks, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, Timothy Kabba, described the region’s democratic gains as fragile, pointing to recent political upheavals.
“The recent military takeover in Guinea-Bissau and the foiled coup attempt in the Benin Republic remind us of how vulnerable our democratic systems have become,” Kabba said.
Kabba disclosed that he led a high-level ECOWAS delegation to Guinea-Bissau earlier in December to engage political and military actors in a bid to ease tensions.
“These engagements helped lower tensions and opened space for continued dialogue under ECOWAS leadership,” he noted, adding that the regional bloc would not tolerate actions that undermine constitutional rule.
“Our discussions must go beyond statements of principle. Our citizens expect concrete decisions that restore confidence in our institutions and offer real hope,” Kabba said.
The Mediation and Security Council meeting is expected to feed into an upcoming summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, as the region faces mounting pressure to address coups, terrorism and deepening political instability across several member states.
