The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Mediation and Security Council has reaffirmed zero tolerance for military coups in the West African region.
Speaking at the opening of the 55th ordinary meeting of the Council in Abuja, Nigeria, the Chairman of the Mediation and Security Council and Sierra Leone’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Musa Kabba said that the regional organisation will not and cannot accept the undermining of constitutional order in its member states, referring to the coup d’état in Guinea-Bissau on 28 November 2025 and the foiled coup in the Republic of Benin on 7 December 2025.
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“We must take decisions that will give hope to our peoples and credibility to our institutions, and that will also contribute to maintaining regional peace and stability,’’ said Mr Kabba.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, also condemned the coups, which he said threatened peace, security and stability in West Africa.
The swift response by Nigeria and ECOWAS to the appeal by the Benin Republic authorities to crush the attempted coup in their country.
He deplored the persistence of military interventions in Guinea-Bissau and the Republic of Benin in recent days, the failure to comply with transition standards in Guinea with the transformation of a military leader into a civilian leader, and the growing erosion of electoral inclusiveness in several states. “Elections have become a major factor of instability in the ECOWAS Community.
“Despite all the efforts made by our Community to establish principles of constitutional convergence and put in place a programme to support elections in our region with a view to preserving our democratic credibility and stability, we continue to witness political practices that violate these principles,” Dr Touray lamented.
He also emphasised the growing influence of terrorists, armed groups and criminal networks that threaten regional stability.
The ECOWAS Commission President called for negotiations on the terms of security cooperation between ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States, “We continue to see the devastating effects of terrorist groups along our borders with the Alliance of Sahel States.’’
Dr Touray drew the attention of Council members to the alarming humanitarian figures for the community, with families, women and children bearing the brunt of the instability.
According to him, data from the Regional Office for West and Central Africa of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees indicate that in October 2025, approximately 7.6 million people were forcibly displaced in the West African region, an increase from the 7.4 million people registered in March 2025. He also did not overlook the case of the 1,094,742 refugees and asylum seekers, calling on Council members to take decisions and measures to reverse this trend.
He expressed his conviction that, thanks to their unwavering commitment to the items on the agenda of their 55th meeting, informed and constructive recommendations will be brought to the attention of the next session of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.