KEY POINTS
- Ministers from ECOWAS call for a renewed commitment to political stability in West Africa.
- Coups and bad government are still major dangers to regional security.
- New problems for West African stability come from climate change and technology.
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, Timothy Kabba, called for a renewed focus on democracy, peace, and West Africa political stability during the closing session of the 55th Mediation and Security Council in Abuja.
Addressing foreign ministers, commissioners, ambassadors, and diplomats, Kabba reflected on emerging threats across the subregion. Kabba remarked, “West Africa is not immune to the vibrations that come from the contestation of the powers of the world in a multipolar era.” This shows how global political tensions are having a bigger and bigger effect on the region.
West Africa political stability faces new pressures
Kabba talked about climate change, technological disruption, and artificial intelligence as new dangers that make instability worse.
He stated, “Climate change and farming crises caused by climate change are making things less stable in the subregion.” Kabba also said that problems like poverty and sickness that have been around for a long time are still very serious.
He also reflected on the region’s historical exposure to external pressures, from the transatlantic slave trade to colonial exploitation, and warned that the technological age introduces novel vulnerabilities.
Coups underscore need for democratic vigilance
Citing the foiled December 7 attempted coup in Benin, Kabba emphasized that unconstitutional takeovers often stem from weak democratic governance. “Our populations sometimes feel legitimacy in opposing democracy when systems fail,” he said. He reaffirmed ECOWAS’ zero-tolerance stance on coups, noting efforts to restore constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau and prevent future disruptions.
Kabba said that trust and regional integration among member states are still very important. “Without peace, security, and stability, there will be no development. ECOWAS prioritizes community stability as the foundation for progress,” he said.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, highlighted the escalating political instability across the region, with military-led administrations in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Guinea-Bissau. He said that the continuous problems show how important it is for everyone to work together to protect democracy and keep West Africa’s politics stable.
