ECOWAS declares regional emergency as coups and political unrest spread across West Africa

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced a sweeping state of emergency across the sub-region amid a troubling rise in coups, attempted mutinies, and deepening political volatility.

The declaration was issued by ECOWAS Commission President, Omar Touray, on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, during the 55th session of the Mediation and Security Council held in Abuja.

Touray noted that the wave of uprisings across member states had exposed “a critical moment requiring sober reflection on the trajectory of our democratic systems and immediate reinforcement of our regional security framework.”

He cautioned that the instability gripping several countries now poses a direct threat not only to individual governments but to the collective peace and institutional cohesion of West Africa.

With the emergency now in effect, ECOWAS is expected to activate a more unified security posture, deepen collaboration among member states, and pursue urgent measures aimed at protecting democratic governance and preventing further deterioration of regional stability.