The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has declared a state of emergency across the West African region following a surge in coups and attempted military takeovers.
Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, announced the decision on Tuesday during the 55th session of the Mediation and Security Council in Abuja.
The emergency declaration comes after a string of destabilizing events, including last month’s takeover in Guinea-Bissau, where soldiers seized government control and suspended the electoral process just days after a presidential election.
On Sunday, another group of soldiers announced they had taken control of government in the Benin Republic. The situation prompted Nigeria to deploy the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to help restore constitutional order — a move the Presidency said was made at the official request of the Beninese government.
Touray warned that recent developments show the region faces a “critical threat” to democratic stability.
“Faced with this situation, it is safe to declare that our community is in a state of emergency,” he said.
His remarks underline a growing concern within the bloc that elections — once symbols of democratic progress — have now become a major trigger for instability.
Touray added that ECOWAS must urgently strengthen security cooperation, especially with the breakaway Alliance of Sahel States (AES), after the group accused Nigeria of violating its airspace during the Benin intervention and threatened to “neutralise” intruders.
He urged member states to unite and pool resources against rising threats of terrorism, banditry, and political unrest spreading across borders.
The declaration marks one of ECOWAS’ strongest responses yet as the bloc confronts escalating tensions and geopolitical pressure across West Africa.
