By Atoyebi Nike
ECOWAS has declared a state of emergency across West Africa due to escalating political instability and security threats.
The announcement came on Tuesday from Commission President Omar Touray during a ministerial security session in Abuja. He cited recent military interventions, failed transitions, terrorism, and growing criminal networks as major risks to regional stability.
Touray highlighted UNHCR data showing that 7.6 million people are forcibly displaced across the region, including more than 6.5 million internally displaced. He called for urgent, coordinated action and more frequent security council meetings.
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Timothy Kabba, stressed the need to protect democracy, referencing recent coups in Guinea-Bissau and an attempted coup in Benin.
The council’s discussions precede a summit of ECOWAS Heads of State, who are expected to decide on measures to restore stability and strengthen governance in the troubled region.
