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Tag: ECOWAS

  • Use ECOWAS, AU protocol for release of detained Air Force aircraft, Reps tell Fed Govt

    Use ECOWAS, AU protocol for release of detained Air Force aircraft, Reps tell Fed Govt

    The House of Representatives yesterday asked the Federal Government to leverage existing bilateral, ECOWAS, and African Union frameworks to facilitate cooperation, mutual understanding, and the expeditious clearance and release of the Air Force aircraft and personnel currently being detained in Burkina Faso.

    The House also asked the Federal Government to provide what it called measured and factual public briefings, where appropriate, to counter misinformation while protecting sensitive diplomatic and security processes.

    In a resolution following a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Ojuawo Rufus Adeniyi (APC, Ekiti), the House urged its Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence, Nigerian Air Force and National Security to jointly interface with the Ministry of Defence , Ministry of Foreign Affairs  and other relevant intelligence agencies to ensure the prompt resolution of all issues relating to the aircraft and its crew.

    It also wants the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to coordinate inter-agency communication and ensure that national security considerations are addressed without escalation.

    Moving the motion, Adeniyi, a retired airport officer, said the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft detained in Burkina Faso was on a duly authorised ferry flight to Portugal for scheduled periodic depot maintenance, a routine and mandatory lifecycle requirement for military transport aircraft.

    According to him, the said flight was properly documented and conducted in compliance with international aviation standards, including provisions for diversion on safety grounds.

    He said a precautionary landing was made at Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, purely on safety considerations and in line with established aviation protocols.

    He said: “Contrary to misinformation circulating in the public domain, the aircraft was neither on an operational mission nor involved in intelligence, espionage, or surveillance activities, and the personnel onboard were standard aircrew and mission-support officers.

    “There is no verified evidence that the aircraft violated airspace, was intercepted, or was compelled to land by hostile action.

    “The matter is currently being addressed through diplomatic engagements by relevant Nigerian government ministries and agencies in accordance with international norms and bilateral relations;

    “The spread of false narratives has the potential to undermine Nigeria’s diplomatic standing, strain regional relations, and erode public confidence in national institutions.”

    He expressed concern about prolonged uncertainty surrounding the aircraft and its personnel could negatively affect national morale, civil–military confidence, and Nigeria’s image within the sub-region, adding that swift, coordinated, and transparent action is necessary to safeguard national security interests and uphold Nigeria’s sovereignty.

    Contributing to the motion , Donald Ojogo (APC, Ondo) said the international political system is such an intricate one that requires highly professionalised participation.

    Ojogo said: “We need to also look in the direction of retooling our foreign service, our diplomatic channels, particularly our diplomatic structure, to ensure that we have more professional touch in our diplomatic engagement. This is more so to help us avoid second-guessing while we are handling such very intricate diplomatic issues that will always confront this nation from time to time.”

  • ECOWAS reaffirms commitment to democratic rule

    ECOWAS reaffirms commitment to democratic rule

    Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reaffirmed its commitment to democratic governance in the sub-region.

    It stated this yesterday after the 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at the State House in Abuja.

    The sub-region which announced the plan to impose sanctions on coup-makers, decried the coup in Guinea Bissau and attempted coup Benin Republic.

    It announced plans to end airfare taxes in other to deepen and make air travels in the sub-region affordable.

    Nigeria’s eminent businessman Aliko Dangote was appoint head of Business Council.

    During the meeting, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who urged the leaders to take decisive and collective action against coups, said the security threats can only be overcome through unity, coordination and a shared sense of responsibility.

    The president, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said West Africa’s increasingly porous borders make joint action unavoidable, stressing that no single country, regardless of size or capacity, can achieve lasting stability in isolation.

    Bio: no alternative to democracy

     President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, who chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States/ Governments, said there is no alternative to democratic government.

    He urged the bloc to rebalance its focus by intensifying economic integration after decades dominated by security challenges.

    President Bio said: “We have a strong belief that we will raise this community to meet its mandate as an economic community. But over the last 50 years, we have been more engaged in security, because insecurity is the deepest enemy of development.”

    President Bio said that member-states are advancing plans to operationalise the ECOWAS Standby Force, including the establishment of a 1,650-person counter-terrorism brigade by the end of 2026, supported by sustainable funding arrangements.

    Read Also: Tunji-Ojo: Nigeria’s future depends on unity, national renewal

    He said: “Economic integration is the bedrock of the ECOWAS vision and the foundation of our collective prosperity.”

    He reaffirmed commitments to remove trade barriers, harmonise policies, deepen the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and advance monetary convergence in line with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

    President Bio said the ECOWAS Convergence Council has strengthened fiscal and monetary coordination, with a single regional currency by 2027 identified as a strategic priority.

    In a move aimed at easing mobility and stimulating trade and tourism, President Bio announced that from January 1, 2026, ECOWAS will abolish air transport taxes and cut passenger and security charges by 25 per cent.

    He said: “This is leadership that is practical, people-centred and responsive to everyday realities.”

    The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, who read the communique, outlined wide-ranging resolutions on regional security, democratic governance and institutional leadership.

    He said the summit reviewed ECOWAS 2025 Annual Report and assessed peace and security in the sub-region.

    Touray said the body noted the “relative stability and resilience” of the region, commended the conduct of recent elections in Guinea-Bissau and Côte d’Ivoire, and welcomed preparations by Benin for elections.

    He also said that the body acknowledged the  implementation of the Agreement for National Unity between the government and the opposition All People’s Congress in Sierra-Leone.

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

    Tinubu calls for united ECOWAS front against coups

    President Tinubu said ECOWAS should unite in its opposition to coups in the sub-region 

    He said the region’s security, prosperity and resilience are collective obligations that require consultation, unity of purpose and coordinated action among member states.

    President Tinubu added: “The external threats confronting West Africa today demand nothing less than a united front. Terrorism, violent extremism, unconstitutional changes of government, transnational organised crime, cyber insecurity, climate shocks, food insecurity and irregular migration do not respect borders.

    “No single member state, regardless of size, can achieve enduring stability alone. Our security, prosperity and resilience are collective responsibilities. We must sit at the same table, speak with one voice and act with shared resolve.”

    Dangote heads ECOWAS Business Council

    The summit marked a renewed push for private-sector-led integration.

     Touray announced the launch of the ECOWAS Business Council, with eminent industrialist Alhaji Aliko Dangote as pioneer chairman.

    He said “Alhaji Aliko Dangote has graciously accepted to serve as the pioneer chairperson of the ECOWAS Business Council,” and that the council would drive investment and deepen economic integration across the region.

    He described the body as a structured platform for dialogue between governments and private-sector actors.

    Touray said ECOWAS is planning a West African Economic Investment Summit, envisioned as a Davos-style forum to coordinate investment and track regional progress.

    Other leaders at the summit included Presidents José Maria Neves of Cabo Verde, Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal, Faure Gnassingbé of Togo, Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire, Adama Barrow of The Gambia and John Mahama of Ghana.

    The leaders of Guinea-Bissau, Benin and Liberia were represented at the meeting.

  • ECOWAS draws red line against coups, threatens sanctions on defaulters

    ECOWAS draws red line against coups, threatens sanctions on defaulters

    …Bloc warns ex-Gambian leader Jammeh, reaffirms readiness to deploy Standby Force

    …Summit reshapes ECOWAS power structure, names Senegal, Nigeria to lead Commission

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has drawn a firm line against unconstitutional changes of government in the sub-region, condemning recent coups and attempted coups and warning that offenders will face targeted sanctions.

    The regional bloc also reaffirmed its readiness to deploy the ECOWAS Standby Force to defend constitutional order across member states.

    These decisions were announced on Sunday at the close of the 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. 

    Reading highlights of the final communiqué, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, outlined wide-ranging resolutions on regional security, democratic governance and institutional leadership.

    Dr Touray said the summit, attended by Heads of State, Vice Presidents and Ministers from across the sub-region, reviewed the Community’s 2025 Annual Report and assessed peace and security developments in 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 elections. 

    It also acknowledged progress in Sierra Leone in implementing 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.

    Dr Touray said the Authority 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 also condemned democratic setbacks in the region, denouncing the coup in Guinea-Bissau as a subversion of the will of the electorate and condemning, without reservation, the attempted coup in Benin.

    It 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.

    On Guinea-Bissau, ECOWAS rejected the transition programme announced by the military leadership, demanded the immediate release of all political detainees, and called for a short, inclusive transition led by a civilian government reflecting the country’s political and social diversity.

    The Authority authorised the ECOWAS military mission in the country 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,” Dr Touray said, adding that ECOWAS had called on the African Union and international partners to support its efforts.

    On Guinea, he said the Authority welcomed progress in the transition process ahead of the December 28 elections and confirmed that ECOWAS would deploy election observers.

    The summit also took key decisions on the region’s institutional leadership ahead of the end of the current ECOWAS Commission’s mandate in July 2026.

    Under the new arrangements, Senegal will assume the Presidency of the ECOWAS Commission, with Nigeria named as Vice President. 

    Read Also: Detty December: Noble Igwe encourages Nigerians to prioritise family

    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 required criteria.

    Earlier, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, who chairs the ECOWAS Authority, urged the bloc to rebalance its focus by intensifying economic integration after decades dominated by security challenges.

    “We have a strong belief that we will raise this community to meet its mandate as an economic community,” President Bio said. “But over the last 50 years, we have been more engaged in security, because insecurity is the deepest enemy of development.”

    He stressed that meaningful regional integration would remain elusive without stability, while calling for urgent investment in education, jobs and opportunities for West Africa’s rapidly growing youth population.

    Describing the Abuja summit as taking place at a critical moment for the region, President Bio said West Africa was grappling with economic pressures, persistent security threats and overlapping crises.

  • BREAKING: ECOWAS to establish joint counter-terrorism force to tackle terrorism, insecurity 

    BREAKING: ECOWAS to establish joint counter-terrorism force to tackle terrorism, insecurity 

    …appoints Dangote pioneer Business Council chair

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is set to establish a joint counter-terrorism force as part of renewed efforts to confront the growing threat of violent extremism across the sub-region.

    The Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, and President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, disclosed this on Sunday while addressing the 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

    President Bio expressed deep concern over the activities of multiple terror groups operating across West Africa, warning that they continue to exploit the fragility of the region’s borders to carry out cross-border attacks and destabilise member states.

    According to him, the proposed joint security force is aimed at strengthening collective defence mechanisms and enhancing coordinated responses among ECOWAS countries in the fight against terrorism.

    “We must strengthen border cooperation to counter terrorism,” the ECOWAS Authority chairman said, stressing the need for closer intelligence sharing, coordinated military action and sustained political commitment to safeguard lives and restore stability across the region.

    Also, President Bio has announced the appointment of the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, as the pioneer Chairman of the ECOWAS Business Council.

    The appointment is expected to strengthen private-sector participation in the regional bloc’s economic integration agenda, deepen cross-border investments and mobilise business leaders in support of ECOWAS development objectives.

    The ECOWAS Business Council is designed to serve as a platform for structured engagement between the public and private sectors, with a focus on boosting trade, industrialisation and economic resilience across West Africa.

    Details shortly…

  • ECOWAS: APC praises Nigeria’s leadership, growing  influence in  W/Africa

    ECOWAS: APC praises Nigeria’s leadership, growing  influence in  W/Africa

    The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says Nigeria is providing strong regional leadership under  President Bola Tinubu.

    Its spokesman, Mr Seye Oladejo, in a statement on Thursday, said the country is playing a stabilising role as  West Africa faces political instability, security threats and economic uncertainty.

    Oladejo said President Tinubu’s role in ECOWAS had strengthened diplomatic engagement and promoted stability in the sub-region.

    Oladejo said Nigeria remained firm in supporting democracy and opposing unconstitutional takeovers  of governments in the sub-region.

    He added that the President’s interventions had helped reopen dialogue channels in troubled West African states.

    According to him,  Nigeria continues to lead security cooperation through counterterrorism efforts and intelligence sharing.

    He said joint operations with regional partners are improving responses to terrorism, piracy and cross-border crime.

    Oladejo commended the strengthening of the ECOWAS Standby Force under Tinubu’s leadership.

    He said Nigeria was also rallying international support to confront emerging security threats in the Sahel.

    According to him, Nigeria’s diplomacy is now anchored on strategy, responsibility and regional development.

    He said the President is advancing economic integration, energy diplomacy and new trade partnerships within West Africa.

    Oladejo said these efforts reflect the Renewed Hope Agenda for a stronger and more secure region.

    He urged Nigerians to remain confident in the country’s growing influence and regional direction.

    Oladejo said Nigeria was shaping key outcomes in Africa through steady leadership and consistent engagement.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that President Bola Tinubu has secured Senate approval for the deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin, following a failed coup attempt in the West African country.

    Tinubu said the deployment followed consultations with the National Defence Council and responded to Benin’s call for military assistance for peace enforcement mission.

    (NAN)

  • Nigeria urges ECOWAS to remain steadfast in defending constitutional order

    Nigeria urges ECOWAS to remain steadfast in defending constitutional order

    Nigeria’s Minister of State, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, on Wednesday called on member states of the Economic Community of West African States to remain committed to defending constitutional order, promoting inclusive political dialogue, and supporting credible transitions that strengthen regional stability.

    She also urged the acceleration of economic integration across the sub-region.

    Odumegwu-Ojukwu made the call at the opening of the 95th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Abuja.

    Addressing delegates, she challenged ECOWAS to respond to the aspirations of millions of young people who look to the regional body for opportunities and a clear pathway to progress.

    While noting that ECOWAS is still celebrating its golden jubilee, she said the bloc must confront the pressing challenges before it, including the recent wave of military takeovers, banditry, and kidnappings.

    “Recent years have witnessed political instability and lack of inclusivity, including forceful unconstitutional changes of government, deliberate prolonged transitions, and governance uncertainties and deficits in a number of Member States,” she said.

    “These situations challenge not only the democratic values to which we have all subscribed, but also threaten hard-won development gains. They undermine citizen confidence and weaken the regional cohesion that has defined ECOWAS for half a century.

    “We must therefore remain steadfast in defending constitutional order, promoting inclusive political dialogue, and supporting credible transitions that reinforce stability. Our unity and collective resolve are essential to navigating these periods of uncertainty.”

    She also added, “At the heart of ECOWAS lies the aspiration for economic integration that delivers tangible benefits for our community citizens. It is this ideal of shared markets, interconnected infrastructure, increased mobility, and coordinated development that inspired our founding fathers to establish the regional body and has guided our Community since 1975. 

    “Today more than ever, we must accelerate these efforts. Our region’s future depends on deepening intra-regional trade, strengthening value chains, facilitating investments, and creating opportunities for the over 400 million people, especially the young people of 25 years and below who constitute about 65% of the population. They no doubt rely on ECOWAS to chart a path toward progress.”

    She also noted the ECOWAS at 50 celebration that is still running, offered an opportunity to reflect deeply on our achievements over the past five decades. 

    “We celebrated the establishment of free movement, significant trade and economic integration frameworks, regional peacekeeping leadership, improved cooperation in critical sectors from health to infrastructure, and ongoing efforts to address the problems of insecurity in the region. 

    “Our accomplishments stand as a powerful testament to the vision of our founders, who understood that West Africa’s greatest strength is forged through unity, solidarity, and collective progress. Moving forward, we are inspired to reach even higher, nurturing a region defined by peace, prosperity, and limitless possibilities for generations to come.”

    She therefore reminded the gathering that their insights and decisions will be instrumental in shaping the recommendations to be submitted to the Authority of Heads of State and Government.

    On his part, the Sierra Leonian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Timothy Kabba stressed the need to be persistent in the integration efforts. 

     He said, “We must persist in our effort to foster an environment conducive to the growth of the private sector, the principal catalyst of the economic integration agenda. While it is acknowledged that integration may sometimes invoke complex sovereignty issues, it is ultimately advantageous to all Member States. 

    “Furthermore, it is imperative that we demonstrate a robust commitment to the promotion and enhancement of trade within the subregion.”

    He also lamented the current trade gaps in the sub-region, describing it as the lowest when compared to other regions of the world. 

    He therefore called for the resuscitation of all trade mechanisms to boost intra-regional trade and investment. 

    According to him, “The current percentage of intra-regional trade lags behind that of other regions. To address this disparity, we should utilize existing mechanisms to foster greater regional economic collaboration, such as the ECOWAS trade liberalization scheme, the ECOWAS investment code, improve transport and energy connectivity, and promote digital transformation as a catalyst for innovation. 

    “In addition, we must address non-tariff barriers, modernize and operationalize brotherhoods, and improve the joint border management process. We must also prepare our region to fully capitalize on the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, which directly advances our internal integration agenda.”

    Speaking on the current security and political situation in the region, Kabba said, “They can only be resolved through enhanced cooperation and mutual understanding among our member states. “Consequently, we must assist in investing in peace and security initiatives both through joint border operations, joint intelligence cooperation, and mediation efforts, activate the ECOWAS Standard Force, and provide support to member states facing threat.

    “In addition, it is essential to ensure that diligent diplomacy, strategic leadership, political dialogue, military cooperation, and development assistance are integrated effectively to address the root causes and foster long-term resilience and sustainability.”

    He concluded by charging member of the council of ministers to “seize this opportunity to reflect on the broader security and governance challenges confronting our region, and to renew our collective determination to safeguard peace, protect democratic institutions, and ensure that the aspirations of our peoples for stability and development are not derailed. Our region has endured too many disruptions to democratic order. 

    “Let us stand together firmly and in solidarity to defend the principles of democracy, transparency, and the people’s right to choose their leaders.”

  • ECOWAS lauds Nigeria for Benin Rep. intervention

    ECOWAS lauds Nigeria for Benin Rep. intervention

    President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, has declared  emergency in the region following rising military incursions, kidnapping, banditry, and worsening humanitarian conditions.

    Touray spoke at the opening of the 55th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council at the ministerial level in Abuja.

    He said the region’s political instability, expanding terrorist activities, and deepening humanitarian crises make it difficult to deny that West Africa is experiencing an emergency.

    “Events of the last few weeks have shown the imperative of serious introspection on the future of our democracy and the urgent need to invest in the security of our community.

    “Faced with this situation, Excellencies, it is safe to declare that our community is in a state of emergency,” he said.

    Touray’s remarks came barely 48 hours after Benin Republic arrested the ringleaders and several soldiers involved in Sunday’s foiled coup attempt. As earlier reported, about 13 suspects were detained after a group of officers briefly seized the national television station and declared the removal of President Talon.

    Loyalist forces quickly regained control, leading Nigeria and ECOWAS to deploy parts of its Standby Force and surveillance assets to help stabilise the country and track fleeing coup suspects.

    ‘ECOWAS must pool resources to confront threats of terrorism, banditry’

    Touray called for more frequent meetings of the ECOWAS Security Council beyond the usual two annual sessions, stressing the need for continuous assessment of regional threats.

    READ ALSO: Rewarding Amuka

    He said: “The sessions of the Mediation and Security Council should be organised more regularly. We must confront these threats with the attention they deserve. We must pool our resources to confront the threats of terrorism and banditry, which operate without respect for territorial boundaries. This Council needs to constantly monitor the political and security situation in our community.”

    Touray outlined several risk factors confronting the region, including persistent military interventions — most recently in Guinea-Bissau and the Republic of Benin — and continued non-compliance with transition timelines in Guinea, where concerns persist about a military leader transitioning into a civilian presidency.

    He also cited declining electoral inclusivity in multiple states, the expanding reach of terrorists and armed groups, and the activities of criminal networks that threaten regional stability.

    To address these challenges, he reiterated the need for joint regional action and sustained security cooperation.

    Touray noted that the ongoing meeting will focus on issues such as managing the situation in Guinea-Bissau, the aftermath of the attempted coup in Benin, ensuring credible transitions in Guinea and safeguarding constitutional order ahead of elections scheduled over the next year.

    The gathering, he said:  “Will also be considering the issue of candidate exclusion trends region-wide; strengthening regional response to terrorism and destabilising activities of armed and organised crime groups; maintaining unity within ECOWAS amid geopolitical pressures; increasing geopolitical pressures affecting member states’ diplomacy and cohesion.”

    He also warned that the issues of elections have become a major trigger of instability within the region.

    “Elections have become a major trigger of instability in our community. Despite the best efforts of our community to establish constitutional convergence principles, and to have a support programme for elections in our region in order to safeguard our democratic credentials and stability, we have continued to witness political practices that violate these principles.”

    He stressed: “In the coming days and months into next year, we will be witnessing elections in Guinea, the Republic of Benin, the Gambia, and Cape Verde. We will also be managing the post-event relating to the coup in Guinea-Bissau and the coup attempt in the Republic of Benin. We also have to negotiate with our neighbours, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), particularly the terms of our security cooperation, as we continue to see the devastating effect of terrorist’ groups along our borders with them.

     “West Africa continues to see grim numbers on the humanitarian front. Behind these numbers are families, women, and children who bear the brunt of instability.”

    He also lamented the scaring humanitarian figure as a fallout of insecurity within the sub-region

    He noted that the recent data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – UNHCR Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa, as of October 2025, is approximately 7.6 million individuals forcibly displaced and an additional 1,094,742 refugees and asylum seekers.

    Touray assured citizens of the community that the commission “will continue to work harder to promote a peaceful, stable, and stronger region for the overall benefit of Community citizens.” “Let us all remain committed to preserving regional unity, advancing peace, and upholding the Community’s Constitutional Convergence Principles,” he added.

    Sierra Leone Minister of Foreign Affairs, Timothy Kabba said the attempted coup in the Benin Republic shows the fragility of democracy in the region.

    He noted that the region is under severe strain as a result of recent happenings.

     ECOWAS, NGF laud Nigeria for foiling Benin coup attempt

      The ECOWAS and Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) yesterday praised Nigeria’s swift intervention in helping to abort the attempted military takeover in Benin Republic, saying the response should become the regional standard for safeguarding democratic governance.

    Touray said Nigeria’s rapid deployment of support forces was instrumental in preventing the overthrow of President Patrice Talon.

    Touray said the development reflects the seriousness of the political risk facing the region.

    “For the speed and commitment shown, Nigeria deserves a standing ovation. This is what regional solidarity should look like if we are determined to protect democracy,” he said.

    The NGF described President Tinubu’s deployment of  military assets to reverse the  coup attempt in Benin Republic as an exercise in the best interest of Nigeria.

    In a statement, NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said a successful coup in Benin would have far-reaching consequences on Nigeria, as the militants and hostile non-state actors in the Sahel Region would take advantage to  destabilise Benin Republic.

    “Apart from admirably acting in support of democracy in the sub-region, the President acted in the best interest of our country and West Africa with the intervention. With the Sahel in disarray and dire security conditions, and a significant portion of Benin, especially the W-forest, already infested by the militants, a successful coup would have had devastating effects on our own country due to our proximity to Benin Republic which shares border with many of our states,” it says.

    The forum, therefore, hailed the President and the Nigerian Armed Forces for the timely interventions that have helped to restore stability and constitutional order to Benin.

     Senate okays Tinubu’s deployment of troops to Cotonou

    The Senate has approved President Tinubu’s deployment of troops  in the Republic of Benin on peace mission to restore democratic order and sanity.

    The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration of the President’s request in the Committee of the Whole during plenary.

    Tinubu  in a letter urged the Senate to approve his deployment of Nigerian troops in the Republic of Benin to restore democratic governance following a coup attempt in the country.

    The President had on Sunday deployed members of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the Republic of Benin to restore democracy following an attempted coup by a group of soldiers.

    Tinubu’s letter of request was read on the floor during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

    The President, in the letter titled: “Deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin for a peace mission”, said his action was “Pursuant to Section 5 (5) Part 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

    After reading the letter, Akpabio committed the President’s request for consent to the Committee of the Whole for immediate action.

  • West Africa in a state of emergency, ECOWAS president warns

    West Africa in a state of emergency, ECOWAS president warns

    Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, on Tuesday warned that West Africa is in a state of emergency following rising military incursions, kidnapping, banditry, and worsening humanitarian conditions across the region.

    Touray raised the alarm at the opening of the 55th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council at the ministerial level in Abuja.

    He said the region’s political instability, expanding terrorist activities, and deepening humanitarian crises make it difficult to deny that West Africa is experiencing an emergency.

    “Events of the last few weeks have shown the imperative of serious introspection on the future of our democracy and the urgent need to invest in the security of our community. Faced with this situation, Excellencies, it is safe to declare that our community is in a state of emergency,” he said.

    Touray called for more frequent meetings of the ECOWAS Security Council beyond the usual two annual sessions, stressing the need for continuous assessment of regional threats.

    He said, “The sessions of the Mediation and Security Council should be organized more regularly. We must confront these threats with the attention they deserve. We must pool our resources to confront the threats of terrorism and banditry, which operate without respect for territorial boundaries. This Council needs to constantly monitor the political and security situation in our Community.”

    Touray outlined several risk factors confronting the region, including persistent military interventions — most recently in Guinea-Bissau and the Republic of Benin — and continued non-compliance with transition timelines in Guinea, where concerns persist about a military leader transitioning into a civilian presidency.

    He also cited declining electoral inclusivity in multiple states, the expanding reach of terrorists and armed groups, and the activities of criminal networks that threaten regional stability.

    To address these challenges, he reiterated the need for joint regional action and sustained security cooperation.

    Touray noted that the ongoing meeting will focus on issues such as managing the situation in Guinea-Bissau, the aftermath of the attempted coup in Benin, ensuring credible transitions in Guinea and safeguarding constitutional order ahead of elections scheduled over the next year.

    The gathering, he said,  “Will also be considering the issue of candidate exclusion trends region-wide; Strengthening regional response to Terrorism and destabilizing activities of armed and organized crime groups; Maintaining unity within ECOWAS amid geopolitical pressures; Increasing geopolitical pressures affecting Member States’ diplomacy and cohesion.”

    He also warned that the issues of elections have become a major trigger of instability within the region.

    “Elections have become a major trigger of instability in our Community. Despite the best efforts of our community to establish constitutional convergence principles, and to have a support programme for elections in our region in order to safeguard our democratic credentials and stability, we have continued to witness political practices that violate these principles.”

    He stressed, “In the coming days and months into next year, we will be witnessing elections in Guinea, the Republic of Benin, the Gambia, and Cape Verde. We will also be managing the post-event relating to the Coup in Guinea-Bissau and the coup attempt in the Republic of Benin. We also have to negotiate with our neighbours, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), particularly the terms of our security cooperation, as we continue to see the devastating effect of terrorist’ groups along our borders with them.

    “West Africa continues to see grim numbers on the humanitarian front. Behind these numbers are families, women, and children who bear the brunt of instability.”

    He also lamented the scaring humanitarian figure as a fallout of insecurity within the sub-region

    He noted that the recent data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – UNHCR Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa, as of October 2025, is approximately 7.6 million individuals forcibly displaced and an additional 1,094,742 refugees and asylum seekers.

    “Data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – UNHCR Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa indicates that as of October 2025, approximately 7.6 million individuals are forcibly displaced across the region, reflecting an increase from 7.4 million recorded in March 2025. Of this total, 6,506,270 are internally displaced persons (IDPs), with Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali accounting for the highest figures. Additionally, there are 1,094,742 refugees and asylum seekers. An analysis of asylum seeker distribution shows that the ten countries hosting the largest populations, in descending order, are Niger, Mali, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin, Senegal, and Gambia. We must therefore take decisions and actions that will reverse this trend.”

    Touray assured citizens of the community that the commission “will continue to work harder to promote a peaceful, stable, and stronger region for the overall benefit of Community citizens.” “Let us all remain committed to preserving regional unity, advancing peace, and upholding the Community’s Constitutional Convergence Principles,” he added.

    He was positive that the gathering, through its robust engagement of the items on the agenda, would provide informed and constructive recommendations for the attention of the Heads of State and Government who are to convene afterwards.

    Timothy Kabba, Sierra Leone Minister of Foreign Affairs, in his remarks, said the attempted coup in the Benin Republic shows the fragility of democracy in the region.

    He noted that the region is under severe strain as a result of recent happenings.

    “We meet at a time when our region is under severe strain. The recent coup in Guinea-Bissau and the attempted coup in the Benin Republic are sobering reminders of the fragility of our democratic gains.

    He therefore said, “ECOWAS cannot and will not accept this development. They undermine everything our community stands for, and they threaten the peace and security of our citizens. This meeting, Excellencies, comes at a decisive moment. The political and security climate across the community is becoming more fragile, and our citizens are understandably very anxious.

    “They are looking to us not just for expressions of concern, but for leadership that translates into action. “The discussions we have today must move beyond just reaffirming principles. They must generate decisions that offer real hope and strengthen the credibility of our institutions.

    “Our people no longer have patience for commitments that remain unpaid. They expect us to confront these challenges with seriousness, unity, and purpose. “

    While calling for frank and constructive discussion, Kabba urged the gathering to be guided by the urgency the moment demands.

  • ECOWAS applauds Nigeria for quelling Benin Coup attempt

    ECOWAS applauds Nigeria for quelling Benin Coup attempt

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Tuesday commended Nigeria for its swift role in quelling the attempted coup in the Republic of Benin.

    Nigeria’s intervention was praised during the opening of the 55th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at the ministerial level in Abuja. 

    The country received a standing ovation from participants, led by ECOWAS Commission President, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray.

    Touray highlighted the rapid response of Nigeria’s military in confronting the coup plotters and emphasized that such prompt action should serve as a model for the region to safeguard democracy.

    He also warned that the West African region is facing a state of emergency due to ongoing political instability, terrorism, and banditry.

    He said, “Events of the last few weeks have shown the imperative of serious introspection on the future of our democracy and the urgent need to invest in the security of our community.

    “Faced with this situation, Excellencies, it is safe to declare that our community is in a state of emergency. For that, the sessions of the mediation and security council should be organized more regularly beyond the two ordinary sessions for the next one year. “We must confront these threats with the attention they deserve. 

    “We must pool our resources to confront the threats of terrorism and banditry, which operate without respect for territorial boundaries.”

    He therefore called for constant meetings of the mediation and security council beyond the two ordinary sessions for the next one year.

    He called for an urgent need to confront these threats with the attention they deserve. 

    He said the region must pool its resources to confront the threats of terrorism and banditry, which operate without respect for territorial boundaries. 

    He also lamented the scaring humanitarian figure as a fall out of insecurity within the sub-region

    He noted that the recent data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – UNHCR Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa as of October 2025, is approximately 7.6 million individuals forcibly displayed and an additional 1,094,742 refugees and asylum seekers.

    He noted that the different risk levels across the region thereby demand immediate and concerted action.

    He listed the risk factors to include the persistence of military interventions (Guinea-Bissau and Republic of Benin just days ago) and non-compliance with transition norms in Guinea, as we face a military leader turning into a civilian leader).

    He also highlighted other causes of humanitarian challenge to include growing erosion of electoral inclusivity across multiple states; Expanding influence of Terrorists and Armed Groups and criminal networks threatening regional stability.

    Touray pointed out the need for constant monitoring of political situations within member states. 

    “This Council needs to constantly monitor the political and security situation in our Community, to provide guidance and to enable regional action.”

  • The Sahel crisis

    The Sahel crisis

    • ECOWAS needs to engage the world for an urgent solution to bandits and ISWAP

    Danger is not looming in the Sahel and the West African region. It is not news that it is intractable now. The real fear is that it may rise to a catastrophic dimension such that the world may scramble in vain to stop it; and it may be a difficult task to do so in short order. Meanwhile, deaths, destruction and displacement may become routine.

    The warning has been in the airwaves in the past few years, especially after the French pulled out their forces from former colonies at the behest and hectoring of the locals. But the immediate alarm came from the world’s top civil servant and the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Antonio Guiterres.

    “The security situation in West Africa and the Sahel is growing more critical by the day,” Guterres said as he virtually addressed a Security Council session on peace consolidation in West Africa. For emphasis, he pointed to the emergencies in one of the countries in question. He said “developments in Mali are a clear reminder of what is at stake.”

    It is important to state that most of the Sahel countries were French colonies, and they include Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. Gambia, which speaks English, is the exception.

    On Mali, the world’s top scribe said, “In the last month, terrorists have continued to attack military-escorted convoys, killing and kidnapping both soldiers and civilians.”

    He added that the Sahel “is not only a regional dramatic reality,” and warned that the Sahel has growing links across Africa and beyond, and so the dire situation could balloon into a “global threat.”

    He did not raise the alarm in a vacuum. He matched it with data. He said that “about 4 million people are now displaced across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and neighbouring countries,” while 14,800 schools and more than 900 health facilities have shut down.

     His solutions are a unified regional security response, fully funded humanitarian appeals, and a coherent development strategy to address the underlying drivers of extremism.

    “Terrorists thrive where the social contract is broken, when families are plunged into poverty and young people don’t have employment, don’t go to school,” he stressed.

    While the UN scribe was right about concerns like poverty, weak institutions and climate change as some of the causes of this growing emergency, we need to go back in time to trace why it has become not just an African cross but the world’s burden.

    During the presidency of Barack Obama, the United States was unhappy with the ways of the Libyan leader and dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Gaddafi had an internal crisis and NATO countries backed rebels who ambushed and killed their president. NATO, led by the U.S. Airforce sandwiched Gaddafi in the capital and immobilised his forces with a no-fly-zone policy. They reinforced the momentum of the rebels who had exploited the Arab Spring to dare their despot.

    Eventually, the rebels took over, and they became a Frankenstein monster that even morphed into a domestic political crisis in the United States when goons stormed the U.S. embassy and killed their ambassador, Chris Stevens, in 2012 in Benghazi.

    It was obvious that the West got more than they bargained for. Rather than get rid of a dictator, they unleashed a generation of unrest in Africa.

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    Libya became a fountainhead of rebels and militants. Rings of hoodlums did not only move like wanton flies in the Sahel, they inspired never-do-wells and opportunists, especially of the religious stripe.

    This factor immobilised the West, who left Africa to its devices. But it has gotten worse as climate change affected the prosperity of the herders who could not find grazing routes without colliding with land rights and farmers. They crossed borders and felt a sense of entitlement.

    With arms flowing from Sudan, a ring of Islamic terror found a fertile ground.

    Other factors followed. Youths who have lost faith in West African countries also saw the routes as passageways out of their countries and continent. Miscreants in Libya are making business and committing crimes from kidnapping to human trafficking to slave labour to rape.

    If there was an Arab Spring in the Middle East and Maghreb, there was impatience with French troops in the Sahel and West Africa. In Niger, for instance, there was an outcry of nationalism. It was trumpeted by its military junta spearheaded by its head of state, General Abdourahamane Tchiani. He exploited the presence of foreign troops, including the French, Americans and British, as a colonial presence in the face of his people’s dignity.

    The same happened in other states, including Burkina Faso, where its military junta led by Ibrahim Traore, has whipped up a nativist hubris. Yet all these countries are not strong enough to fend off the insurgencies, especially of Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP).

    As Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who is now Minister of Defence in Nigeria, had attributed the resilience of the ISWAP and bandits in Nigeria to the free flow of weapons to the elements. He has asked the international communities who have their pulses on the arteries of international finance to identify and stop their white-collared militants in air-conditioned lofts feeding the bloodshed and slaughter in lush and arboreal quiets in the region.

    If some of these countries are sitting on edge as the insurgents acquire territory after territory and edge further to the state houses, it is because they have weaponry, resources and an intangible artillery: faith.

    They combine resource and belief, two assets that beat their foes. This makes it important for the rest of the world to take the tasks urgently. The same Sahel countries that have driven the Western military out cannot overcome their foes without the forces they booed out of their lands.

    Is it a time for them to eat humble pie, and ask the forces back? Or shall they latch on to national dignity and die a slow, inevitable humiliation. We cannot call for force since it intercepts sovereignty rights. We can only ask them to look for a diplomatic route out of this situation.

    The consequence of inaction is a looming Afghanistan, and that would imply that there would not be a resistance, and resistance would be a call back to the melee in Bosnia in the 1990s. Libya just gave us a brutal prototype of such a scenario.

    Most of the endangered countries are under the military, and the soldiers have acquitted themselves without statesmanlike virtues. They have hectoring brutes in uniforms, appealing to thankless African pride while their people are displaced, killed, their women raped and taken to wife by force. Their routine lives have been taken away from them.

    Four million people in the sub-region will be a child’s play as refugees if they are allowed to surge ahead. More territories won, more refugees, more miseries. Europe is angry over the many Africans ferrying to their countries but are not willing to tackle the fundamental problem pouring them into their waters and their borders.

    It is this context that has created a problem for Nigeria. Of the about 2000 entry points through our borders, only about 84 are manned. Is it a wonder that Nigeria is a target of bandits, with our forests as nests, while they invade, kidnap for ransom, and cart away schoolchildren?

    The United Nations needs to galvanise the world for the region, and the regional leaders under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also need to cry in one voice and take the lead in a quest for help and set a cooperative template for how to flush out the bandits and Islamists. This will not work if they do not first stop the money flow. The situation is very urgent today. It will be even more so in the next 24 hours.