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From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government, Julius Maada Bio, has warned that the ECOWAS sub-region is under severe strain due to escalating political instability.
Bio addressed these concerns in Abuja at the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council Meeting.
Represented by Timothy Musa Kabba, Chair of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council and Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, President Bio reaffirmed his firm commitment to collective peace, stability, and democratic good governance in the region.
“We meet at a time when our region is under severe strain. The recent coup in Guinea-Bissau and the attempted coup in Benin Republic are sobering reminders of the fragility of our democratic gains,” Bio stated.
He noted that after the unconstitutional change of government in Guinea-Bissau, he promptly convened an extraordinary summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government on 27 November 2025.
He said the virtual summit reaffirmed ECOWAS’ zero tolerance for unconstitutional actions, called for urgent restoration of constitutional order, and mandated active engagement with national stakeholders.
Bio asserted that ECOWAS cannot – and will not – accept such developments, stressing that they undermine the community’s core values and threaten the peace and security of citizens.
“This meeting comes at a decisive moment. The political and security climate across the community is becoming more fragile, and our citizens are understandably anxious. They expect us not just to express concern, but to provide leadership that results in decisive action.
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“The discussions we have today must go beyond reaffirming principles. We must generate decisions that offer real hope and enhance our institutions’ credibility. Our people no longer have patience for unfulfilled commitments. They expect us to confront these challenges with seriousness, unity, and purpose.”
In his address, ECOWAS Commission President Alieu Omar Touray highlighted the need for introspection regarding the region’s democratic future and called for urgent investment in community security.
Touray cited continued military interventions, particularly in Guinea-Bissau and Benin, alongside non-compliance with transition agreements in Guinea, as issues demanding joint response.
He noted additional concerns: declining electoral inclusivity, rising influence of terrorists, armed groups, criminal networks challenging stability, and mounting geopolitical pressures undermining cohesion among member states.
Touray said elections remain a trigger for instability in ECOWAS. Despite efforts at constitutional convergence and election support programmes, undemocratic practices persist.
“In the coming months, we will see elections in Guinea, Benin, the Gambia, and Cape Verde while managing the aftermath of the coups in Guinea Bissau and Benin. We must also negotiate security cooperation with our neighbours in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), given ongoing terrorist threats along these borders.
“Faced with this, it is safe to declare that our community is in a state of emergency. Accordingly, mediation and security council sessions should be convened more frequently than the current two ordinary sessions over the next year. We must marshal resources to counter terrorism and banditry, which ignore national boundaries.”
Touray stated that the Council must continually monitor the political and security climate to guide timely and effective regional action.
