The Economic Community of West African States on Tuesday declared a state of emergency across the sub region following a surge in political instability, military interventions, terrorism and humanitarian crises.
The declaration was made by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Omar Touray, during the 55th Session of the Mediation and Security Council at the ministerial level held in Abuja.
Touray said recent developments across member states showed the urgent need for deep reflection on the future of democracy in the region and immediate investment in collective security.
According to him, country by country security assessments presented to the council rated most member states as high risk, a situation he described as deeply troubling.
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 identified persistent military interventions, including recent threats in Guinea Bissau and Benin, delayed political transitions in Guinea, shrinking electoral inclusivity, and the growing influence of terrorists and criminal networks as major drivers of instability.
Touray further warned that elections have increasingly become triggers for violence rather than instruments of democratic stability.
He also referenced ongoing engagements with the Alliance of Sahel States and recent coup attempts in parts of the region, stressing the need for a coordinated response to cross border crimes and terrorism.
Faced with this situation, Excellencies, it is safe to declare that our community is in a state of emergency, he said.
The ECOWAS Commission President called for more frequent meetings of the Mediation and Security Council and urged member states to pool resources to confront terrorism and banditry.
On the humanitarian front, Touray disclosed that about 7.6 million people were forcibly displaced across West Africa as of October 2025, including over 6.5 million internally displaced persons. The worst affected countries include Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali.
Despite the grim outlook, he reaffirmed ECOWAS commitment to regional peace and stability.
