The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has declared a state of emergency across the region amid escalating political instability, rising insecurity, and worsening humanitarian conditions.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, announced the decision on Tuesday during the 55th Session of the Mediation and Security Council at ministerial level in Abuja. Addressing ministers, diplomats and senior officials, Touray warned that recent events reflect a rapidly deteriorating political and security landscape.
He said documents before the Council show that ECOWAS member states currently face an average rating of “high risk,” driven by military interventions, political tensions, terrorist activities and the expanding influence of criminal networks.
“Events of the last few weeks have shown the imperative of serious introspection on the future of our democracy and the urgent need to invest in the security of our community,” Touray said. He cited persistent coups, non-compliance with transition timelines, erosion of electoral inclusivity and mounting geopolitical pressures as key destabilising factors.
Touray noted that elections have increasingly become triggers of instability, pointing to recent attempted coups and ongoing challenges in countries undergoing political transitions. He also highlighted the need for a coordinated response to terrorism and cross-border criminality, urging more frequent meetings of the Mediation and Security Council in the coming year.
He expressed concern over worsening humanitarian conditions, citing UNHCR figures showing that as of October 2025, about 7.6 million people are forcibly displaced in West Africa, including over 6.5 million internally displaced persons. Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali host the largest displaced populations, while Niger, Mali, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo record the highest numbers of asylum seekers.
Touray insisted ECOWAS must urgently take decisions to reverse the negative trends, reassuring citizens of the region that the bloc remains committed to promoting peace, stability and constitutional governance.
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Council of Ministers, Timothy Kabba, echoed these concerns, describing the recent coups in Guinea-Bissau and the attempted coup in Benin Republic as stark warnings of the fragility of democratic progress in the region.
Kabba said Sierra Leone recently dispatched a high-level delegation to Guinea-Bissau to engage military and political actors, helping open channels for continued dialogue under ECOWAS guidance. He urged member states to produce concrete outcomes from the meeting, rather than merely restating commitments.
“Our people no longer have patience for commitments that remain unfulfilled. They expect us to confront these challenges with seriousness, unity and purpose,” he said.
The session precedes a meeting of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, who are expected to deliberate on the Council’s recommendations as the region faces mounting pressure to restore stability.
West Africa is currently grappling with multiple coups and attempted coups, including recent developments in Guinea-Bissau and the foiled military takeover in Benin Republic. Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso remain under military rule, while electoral tensions and armed groups continue to fuel insecurity across the region.
