The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, has warned that West Africa is facing a profound crisis of democracy and security, cautioning that the region’s instability threatens to derail Africa’s broader integration and development goals.
Touray issued the warning at the African Public Square (APS) Second Continental Edition Conference held on Friday in Abuja. The event, themed “Future Proofing Regional Integration in Africa: ECOWAS @50,” brought together political leaders, scholars, and policymakers to discuss the future of the regional bloc amid mounting governance and security challenges.
Represented by Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Touray said the sub-region had reached a defining moment that would shape its political and democratic future.
“We have a crisis of security, and we also have a crisis of democracy in West Africa today,” he stated. “Democracy is under threat, and it doesn’t seem like leaders have learned their lessons.”
Touray disclosed that ECOWAS had initiated a citizen-led review of its integration framework to align it with new realities across the continent, adding that the process would culminate in a 15-year strategic pact to guide the organization’s next phase.
The ECOWAS chief traced the bloc’s evolution from its 1975 founding through its role in managing post-Cold War conflicts, to its present struggle with internal political instability and democratic backsliding. He warned that the world was entering what he described as a “warm war era,” marked by shifting global alliances, and urged West African states to safeguard their democratic institutions.
“Only a renewed commitment to inclusivity, good governance, and dialogue can bring estranged members back into the ECOWAS family,” he said, lamenting that political exclusion and manipulation of electoral processes were undermining democracy in several member states.
Observers note that Touray’s remarks reflect growing frustration within ECOWAS over the erosion of democratic norms in the region. Once regarded as a model for democratic governance in Africa, the bloc has recently struggled to contain a resurgence of coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—countries that have since withdrawn from the organization following sanctions and policy disputes.
Also speaking at the event, former Ekiti State Governor and ex-Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, attributed the worsening insecurity in the region to leadership failures and weak institutions rather than insurgency alone.
“Many of the crises confronting West Africa today are symptoms of poor governance and exclusionary politics,” Fayemi said.
The warnings from both leaders come amid a wave of political turbulence in the sub-region. Several countries have experienced coups or attempted coups in recent years, including Nigeria, which recently foiled a plot involving senior military officers.
