Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has declared a state of emergency across West Africa due to a series of recent coups and failed mutinies in the region.

This announcement was made by ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray during the 55th session of the Mediation and Security Council at the ministerial level, held in Abuja on December 9, 2025.

Touray emphasized that these events underscore the urgent need for deep reflection on the future of democracy in the sub-region and greater investment in community security.

Touray said the 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 declaration follows heightened instability, including a thwarted coup attempt in Benin just days earlier.

Touray pointed to elections as a “major trigger of instability” in the region.

“Despite the best of efforts of our community to establish constitutional convergence principles, and to have a support programme for elections in our region in order to safeguard our democratic credentials and stability, we have continued to witness political practices that violate these principles,” he said.

“We also have to negotiate with our neighbours, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), particularly the terms of our security cooperation as we continue to see the devastating effect of terrorists’ groups along our borders with them,” he added.

“We must confront these threats with the attention they deserve.

“We must pool our resources to confront the threats of terrorism and banditry, which operate without respect for territorial boundaries.”

Touray tasked the council with maintaining unity within ECOWAS amid geopolitical pressures