9th December, 2025.
The Economic Community of West African States has formally announced a state of emergency across West Africa following a deteriorating political and security landscape marked by military takeovers and escalating terrorist activities.
Dr Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, made the declaration on Tuesday, December 10, during the 55th Session of the Mediation and Security Council held at ministerial level in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Addressing ministers, diplomats and senior officials, Dr Touray presented a stark assessment of the region’s current situation, noting that member states now face an average risk rating of “high” based on comprehensive country analyses.
“Faced with this situation, Excellencies, it is safe to declare that our community is in a state of emergency,” Dr Touray stated during his address.
The declaration comes after recent coups in Guinea-Bissau and Benin Republic rattled the region. In Guinea-Bissau, military officers seized control last month and suspended the electoral process days after presidential elections were conducted. On December 8, soldiers in Benin announced a government takeover, though the situation was swiftly addressed when Nigerian military forces intervened following a request from Beninese authorities.
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Council of Ministers, Timothy Kabba, described the recent events as sobering indicators of democratic fragility in the region.
“The recent coup in Guinea-Bissau and the attempted coup in the Benin Republic are sobering reminders of the fragility of our democratic gains,” Kabba remarked.
Dr Touray identified elections as a significant trigger of regional instability, citing violations of ECOWAS constitutional convergence principles despite the bloc’s efforts to support democratic processes.
The ECOWAS chief also highlighted humanitarian concerns, referencing United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees data indicating approximately 7.6 million displaced persons across the region as of October 2024, with Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali bearing the largest burden.
Looking ahead, Dr Touray emphasized the need for enhanced security cooperation, particularly with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a breakaway faction comprising Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
“We must pool our resources to confront the threats of terrorism and banditry, which operate without respect for territorial boundaries,” he stressed, calling for more frequent ministerial sessions over the coming year.
The emergency declaration affects 15 ECOWAS member nations as the bloc prepares to navigate elections in Guinea, Benin, Gambia and Cape Verde in the near term.
Despite the challenges, Dr Touray reaffirmed ECOWAS’s commitment to promoting stability, stating, “We will continue to work harder to promote a peaceful, stable and stronger region for the overall benefit of Community citizens.”