Benin Ecowas sees West Africa in a state of emergency
In view of the many violent uprisings in West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has described the situation as a state of emergency.
09.12.2025, 16:54
SDA
It is necessary to think seriously about the future of democracy and the security of the regional community, said Ecowas Commission President Omar Touray at a ministerial conference in Nigeria's capital Abuja, according to media reports.
Ecowas still has ten active member states, in which around 360 million people live. Among them is Benin, which foiled a military coup on Sunday. Two other members, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, have been suspended since the military took power there. The states of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which were also suspended for a long time following coups and have a total population of around 75 million, withdrew this year and founded their own alliance, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Unrest and violence threaten to overwhelm West Africa's democracies
According to the Nigerian newspaper "Punch", Touray said that risks were looming everywhere in West Africa. In addition to seizures of power by the military, he cited declining voter turnout, growing threats from terrorists, armed groups and criminal networks as well as increasing geopolitical pressure, which was affecting the cohesion of states.
"In view of this situation, Excellencies, it is safe to say that our community is in a state of emergency," "Punch" quoted him as saying. Ecowas must pool more resources to fight terrorists and criminal groups, involve citizens more politically and defend regional unity against external pressure.
Nigeria with air strikes and ground troops against coup in Benin
Nigeria, which is itself struggling with a catastrophic security situation in parts of the country, helped the government of neighboring Benin on Sunday with airstrikes and ground troops to end an attempted coup.
Benin's government published an official account of the events on Monday evening. Mutinous soldiers had occupied a barracks in the government metropolis of Cotonou and later the state television station and attempted to seize generals and the president. Other military units had put down the uprising, according to reports.
In order not to endanger the population in the vicinity of the occupied barracks through ground fighting, Nigeria had been asked for air strikes. No people were killed, as the attackers had fled, the statement continued. Nigerian Ecowas soldiers are now stationed at the base. The Ivory Coast had also sent special forces.
Trouble over emergency landing - Sahel states threaten Ecowas
Meanwhile, the emergency landing of a Nigerian military plane in Burkina Faso on Monday evening caused another incident. On behalf of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, Mali's President Assimi Goita condemned the violation of airspace in violation of international law and threatened to "neutralize" all unauthorized aircraft in the future. The military governments of the three Sahel states have distrusted Ecowas since the alliance threatened to invade Niger in 2023 following the coup.
Nigeria's air force announced that the plane had experienced technical problems on its way to Portugal. The eleven-member crew were safe and were treated courteously by the host authorities.
