The Economic Community of West African States has imposed a state of emergency in the region, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, revealed on Tuesday during the 55th Session of the Mediation and Security Council at the ministerial level in Abuja.
Touray said recent happenings underscores the “imperative of serious introspection on the future of our democracy and the urgent need to invest in the security of our community.”
The President explained to the ministers, diplomats and senior officials, a sobering assessment of West Africa’s political climate, giving examples of evidence of a rapidly deteriorating security environment.
He said ECOWAS countries are facing an average rating of “high risk,” based on country-by-country analyses contained in documents before the ministers.
“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.
“As you would have seen in the memoranda before you, the country-by-country analyses of our member states show different risk levels across our community, from high to medium, with an average of high risk, thereby demanding immediate and concerted action.
“The risk factors are the persistence of military interventions (Guinea-Bissau and the Republic of Benin just days ago); non-compliance with transition norms in Guinea, where we face a military leader turning civilian; growing erosion of electoral inclusivity across multiple states; expanding influence of terrorists, armed groups and criminal networks; and increasing geopolitical pressures affecting member states’ diplomacy and cohesion,” he explained.
According to Touray, “elections have become a major trigger of instability in our community,” citing recent coups and ongoing discussions with the Alliance of Sahel States, adding that there was urgent need for a coordinated regional response to terrorism and cross-border criminal activity.
He said the situation was unprecedented, went ahead to declare a state of emergency. “Faced with this situation, Excellencies, it is safe to declare that our community is in a state of emergency.”
Touray asked for more frequent meetings of the Mediation and Security Council in the next year, saying ECOWAS must “pool our resources to confront the threats of terrorism and banditry, which operate without respect for territorial boundaries.”
He said areas requiring continuous ministerial oversight include the crisis in Guinea-Bissau, managing political transitions, addressing rising political exclusion and safeguarding regional unity amid external pressures.
The ECOWAS Commission President said there was a worsening humanitarian conditions in West Africa, referencing recent UNHCR data, adding that t “as of October 2025, approximately 7.6 million individuals are forcibly displaced across the region,” including more than 6.5 million internally displaced persons.
According to the data, the largest displaced populations are in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, while Niger, Mali, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo host the highest numbers of asylum seekers.
Touray stressed, “We must therefore take decisions and actions that will reverse this trend.”
Despite the challenges, he reaffirmed ECOWAS’s commitment to its citizens.
“Let me assure our community citizens that we will not rest on our oars. We will continue to work harder to promote a peaceful, stable and stronger region for the overall benefit of Community citizens,” he said.
He urged member states to uphold constitutional norms and maintain unity: “Let us all remain committed to preserving regional unity, advancing peace and upholding the Community’s Constitutional Convergence Principles.”
Touray also welcomed new ministerial representatives attending the session for the first time.
“May I extend a warm welcome to the new Ministers of Defence of Nigeria, Rtd. General Christopher Musa, and Foreign Affairs of Cabo Verde, José Luis Livramento, who are joining today for the first time,” he said.
