Abuja – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has declared a state of emergency across the region, citing a surge in unconstitutional changes of government and failed military mutinies that threaten democratic stability and security.
ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Touray announced the measure on Tuesday during the 55th ordinary session of the Mediation and Security Council at the ministerial level, convened urgently in Abuja to address the escalating crises.
The declaration comes in the wake of a failed coup attempt in Benin on December 7, 2025, where mutinous soldiers briefly seized key installations in Cotonou before being subdued with support from Nigerian forces and an ECOWAS standby unit.
It follows a string of successful coups in Mali (2020, 2021), Guinea (2021), Burkina Faso (2022), Niger (2023), and ongoing instability in Sierra Leone and Senegal.
Touray underscored the gravity of the situation, stating: “The recent developments highlight the imperative of serious introspection on the future of our democracy and the urgent need to invest in the security of our community.
The emergency status empowers ECOWAS to mobilise resources, including its standby force, for rapid intervention to restore constitutional order, enhance border security, and counter jihadist threats spilling from the Sahel. Ministers also discussed bolstering intelligence sharing and economic sanctions against junta-led states that exited the bloc in January 2025.
Nigeria, as ECOWAS chair under President Bola Tinubu, played a pivotal role in the session, with Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar reaffirming Abuja’s commitment to regional integration amid the Alliance of Sahel States’ (AES) defiance.
Analysts view the move as a bold but risky escalation, potentially straining ties with AES members Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, while signalling ECOWAS’s resolve to prevent further democratic erosion in a region already grappling with over 1,500 terrorist incidents this year alone.
