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The President, Economic Community of West African States Commission, Omar Touray, has called for more democratic reforms in regions to check coup.
The development is against the backdrop of recent military coups which exposed the fragility of West Africa’s political systems.
Touray spoke in Abuja during an annual lecture organised by the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria.
While delivering his keynote address titled, 'Consolidating Democracy and Integration in ECOWAS: The Journey So Far,' Touray underscored the need for reforms to check coups.
The ECOWAS President noted that the combination of persistent poverty, youth unemployment, and glaring inequality had eroded public trust in political systems, offering opportunities for military intervention.
According to him, “We thought we were at cruising speed with no coup d’etat, with no unconstitutional change of government but all that seems to be threatened by the re-emergence of unconstitutional activities."
He cited the rise of terrorism in the Sahel following the fall of Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, which had further destabilised West Africa.
“The dangerous cocktail of terrorism, popular discontent, and dissatisfaction with democratic dividends have given the military all the excuses they need to return to politics,” he warned.
Despite these setbacks, Touray offered a glimmer of hope for the future of democracy in West Africa.
He praised recent elections in Senegal and Liberia as signs of maturing democratic culture and emphasised that several ECOWAS member states, including Ghana, Cape Verde, and Nigeria, had continued to demonstrate resilience in their democratic processes.
In a bid to safeguard democracy, Touray said there was the need to “strengthening regional and national institutions, ensuring more open political spaces, reinforcing the independence of the judiciary, establishing robust anti-corruption frameworks, and promoting a responsible press and social media.
“The future of democracy in West Africa lies in building stronger institutions and creating an inclusive political environment where citizens feel empowered."
In his remarks, the Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, pledged the country’s unwavering leadership in promoting democracy and economic integration across West Africa.
The minister underscored Nigeria’s leadership in tackling these pressing issues, particularly the wave of military coups and political crises that had rocked several ECOWAS member states in recent years.
“While various efforts are ongoing to explore avenues for easing tensions with the breakaway countries, we will continue to prioritise deepening economic integration, enhancing security and reinforcing democracy in West Africa and the Sahel for the benefit of the community of peoples,” he said.
