ECOWAS leaders warn of rising threats to democracy, call for stronger regional action
West African leaders have urged member states to unite in defending democracy and the rule of law, warning that the sub-region may not survive ongoing political threats without decisive joint action.
They issued the call in Abuja during an event marking the 25th anniversary of the ECOWAS Parliament, where speakers stressed that the region’s stability, democratic gains and peace were increasingly under pressure.
Sierra Leone’s President and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Julius Maada Bio, said the bloc must “fight tooth and nail” to reverse the growing threats to democratic governance. Represented by his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Timothy Kabba, Bio noted that ECOWAS had historically played a pivotal role in peacebuilding, regional cooperation, migration and human rights, with Sierra Leone among the major beneficiaries.
“The challenges before us demand an ECOWAS Parliament to raise a voice and give managerial accommodation,” he said. “As we mark this milestone, let us renew our resolve to build on the achievements of the past 25 years.”
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, called on lawmakers to commit themselves to protecting the region’s political future, insisting that democracy, human rights and the rule of law must not be allowed to erode.
“We must fight for democratic space, human rights and rule of law if we want our democracy to survive,” he said, adding that the silver jubilee celebration should serve as a moment of reflection ahead of future decades.
Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Mémounatou Ibrahima, said the institution had matured and must now confront present-day challenges more boldly. She noted that mediation missions in troubled member states demonstrated the ongoing fragility of peace in the region.
“Our mediation missions remind us that peace is not merely the absence of conflict. Peace rests fundamentally on just, credible, and inclusive institutions,” she said.
Former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, reaffirmed that despite its current challenges, democracy remained West Africa’s best path to development and peaceful coexistence. He urged the parliament to protect electoral processes and lead coordinated regional responses to violent extremism.
“The future of our region will not survive in your free will. You must strive to strengthen the foundations of democracy in the sub-region,” Jonathan said.
The event coincides with the 50th anniversary of the ECOWAS community, marking what leaders described as both a moment of celebration and a call to action for the region’s future governance and stability.
