ECOWAS leaders move to clamp down on coups

Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have agreed to forge a united front to halt the spread of military coups, terrorism and other forms of insecurity across the sub-region.

The decision was taken on Sunday in Abuja at the 68th Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, against the backdrop of a series of military takeovers in the Sahel. The bloc resolved to shift from reactive sanctions to more pre-emptive military and diplomatic interventions.

President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, who read highlights of the summit’s communiqué, outlined far-reaching resolutions on regional security, democratic governance and institutional leadership.

Touray said the summit, attended by Heads of State, Vice Presidents and ministers from all member states, reviewed the Community’s 2025 Annual Report and assessed peace and security developments across West Africa.

According to him, the Authority noted the “relative stability and resilience” of the region, commended the conduct of recent presidential and general elections in Guinea-Bissau and Côte d’Ivoire, and welcomed preparations by Benin ahead of its forthcoming polls.

The Authority also acknowledged progress in Sierra Leone with the implementation of the Agreement for National Unity between the government and the opposition All People’s Congress.

On The Gambia, ECOWAS expressed grave concern over statements made from exile by former President Yahya Jammeh, warning that such pronouncements violated the conditions of his asylum in Equatorial Guinea and posed a threat to peace, security and social cohesion.

Touray stressed that the joint ECOWAS–African Union–United Nations declaration preceding Jammeh’s departure did not absolve him of accountability for alleged human rights violations committed during his rule between 1994 and 2016.

The Authority further condemned democratic setbacks in the region, denouncing the coup in Guinea-Bissau as a subversion of the will of the electorate and condemning the attempted coup in Benin Republic.

The meeting applauded the swift intervention of the ECOWAS Standby Force, working alongside national forces from Benin, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Sierra Leone, describing the action as a demonstration of regional solidarity.

Consequently, the Authority authorised the ECOWAS military mission in Guinea-Bissau to protect political leaders and national institutions, mandated the Chair of the Authority to lead a fresh high-level mission to Bissau, and directed the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff to engage the military authorities.

“The Authority insists that failure to comply with its decisions will attract targeted sanctions against individuals or groups obstructing the return to constitutional order,” Touray said, adding that ECOWAS had called on the African Union and international partners to support its efforts.

The summit also restructured the region’s institutional leadership ahead of the end of the current Commission’s mandate in July 2026.

Under the new arrangement, Senegal was named to assume the Presidency of the ECOWAS Commission, with Nigeria as Vice President. Other statutory portfolios were allocated to Sierra Leone (Political Affairs, Peace and Security), Liberia (Economic Affairs and Agriculture), Côte d’Ivoire (Internal Services), Ghana (Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation), and Benin (Human Development and Social Affairs).

ECOWAS also endorsed Ghana’s candidature for Chairperson of the African Union in 2027 and indicated that Liberia would assume the ECOWAS Commission Presidency between 2030 and 2034, subject to meeting stipulated criteria.

Earlier, immediate past Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, identified incessant coups, transnational organised crime, arms proliferation, cyber insecurity, climate shocks, food insecurity and irregular migration as major challenges confronting the region.

Speaking during the opening of the session tagged “Special Debate on the Future of the Community,” Tinubu said these threats must be addressed collectively, noting that they do not respect national borders.

He acknowledged that member states may disagree at times, but stressed that differences should not undermine regional unity.

“Disagreements and sibling rivalry do not erase belonging or annul shared blood,” the Nigerian leader said.

Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s “proven fidelity” to the ideals of ECOWAS and its unwavering commitment to collective action in defence of the region’s common future, stressing that the unity of the bloc is “foundational, not transactional.”

On his part, Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, thanked President Tinubu and the Federal Government of Nigeria for hosting the summit, commending Nigeria’s leadership role in the region.

Bio described the 68th Ordinary Session as a defining moment and a turning point for the Community’s over 400 million citizens.

He also announced that from January 2026, ECOWAS would implement a landmark policy to reduce the cost of air travel across West Africa.

Under the agreement, member states will abolish air transport taxes, among other measures, to enhance regional connectivity.

In his remarks, Touray acknowledged the support of continental and international partners, noting that recent developments in West Africa have underscored the importance of regional solidarity.

He also announced that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has accepted to serve as Chairman of the ECOWAS Business Council, a platform designed to strengthen dialogue between governments and the private sector to drive regional development.

Also speaking, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, represented by the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, said the session offered an opportunity to deepen coordination and strategic dialogue in advancing democracy and regional stability.

He stressed that the attempted coup in Benin Republic and the instability in Guinea-Bissau were regrettable and “unacceptable to the African Union.”

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