The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, has declared a state of emergency across West Africa following a sharp escalation in violent extremism, military coups, banditry and political instability threatening the region’s democratic order. Naija247news gathered that Touray made the declaration on Tuesday during the 55th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at ministerial level in Abuja.
Touray said recent developments across the sub-region underscored the need for deep reflection on the future of democracy and the urgency of strengthening security frameworks. Naija247news understands that country-by-country assessments revealed varying but alarming risk levels, ranging from medium to high, making the collective regional threat profile severe.
“Faced with this situation, it is safe to declare that our community is in a state of emergency,” Touray said, stressing that the region must confront these challenges decisively. According to Naija247news, he called for more frequent MSC meetings, beyond the statutory two annual sessions, to maintain consistent oversight of political and security trends over the next year.
He urged ECOWAS member states to pool resources and take coordinated action against terrorism and banditry, which continue to spread across borders. Touray noted that despite ECOWAS’ long-standing efforts to entrench constitutional norms and safeguard democracy, elections had increasingly become major triggers of political instability.
As part of the emergency response, Naija247news reports that the MSC is expected to maintain constant monitoring of security and political transitions, especially amid heightened electoral activity. Touray said upcoming elections in Guinea, Benin, the Gambia and Cape Verde, as well as post-coup developments in Guinea-Bissau and the attempted coup in Benin, required vigilant regional engagement.
He also emphasised the need to engage the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) on security cooperation, particularly given the devastating impact of terrorism along shared borders.
Touray highlighted the worsening humanitarian situation across the region. Naija247news gathered that as of October 2025, approximately 7.6 million people were forcibly displaced across West and Central Africa, marking an increase from 7.4 million earlier recorded in March. He disclosed that 6,506,270 of them were internally displaced persons (IDPs), with Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali accounting for the highest figures.
Additionally, he cited UNHCR data showing that 1,094,742 refugees and asylum seekers were spread across the region. The largest host countries include Niger, Mali, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin, Senegal, and the Gambia.
Touray assured citizens that ECOWAS remained committed to strengthening peace, security and constitutional governance. Naija247news understands that he called for unity, renewed commitment and collective action to restore stability to the region.
Also speaking, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, Timothy Kabba, warned that rising political and security tensions posed serious threats to democratic governance and public trust.
“Our citizens are understandably anxious. They are looking to us not just for expressions of concern, but for leadership that translates commitment into action,” Kabba said. He urged the council to move beyond rhetoric, insisting that West Africans wanted decisive, unified and practical solutions.
Naija247news reports that the ministerial session focused on reviewing the region’s worsening security environment, with the aim of developing actionable strategies to address emerging threats and safeguard stability across West Africa.
Agnes Ekebuike Editor, Naija247news ✔
Agnes Ekebuike is the Editor of Naija247news.com. A seasoned journalist with expertise in Business, Energy, Politics, and Entertainment, she is known for her in-depth reporting and insightful storytelling. Agnes is passionate about delivering news that informs, empowers, and sparks meaningful dialogue across Nigeria and beyond.
View Archive →
