The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced a state of emergency across the region.
ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray made the announcement on Tuesday during the 55th session of the Mediation and Security Council, held at the ministerial level in Abuja.
The session was convened in response to a series of coups and failed mutinies affecting multiple countries in the sub-region.
Touray emphasized that these events underscore the “need for serious reflection on the future of our democracy and the urgent importance of strengthening the security of our community.”
The emergency declaration follows a period of political instability marked by coups in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea, as well as the recent failed coup attempt in Benin.
Additionally, political unrest was reported in Guinea-Bissau, where a military faction attempted to seize power last month, highlighting ongoing security challenges in the region.
