KEY POINTS
- Ministers from ECOWAS promise to follow a zero-tolerance approach against coups.
- Regional leaders stress the need for quick and unified responses to developments that are against the law.
- The ECOWAS zero-threat stance is meant to keep democracy and stability safe.
Timothy Kabba, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, has asked member states to stick to a firm zero-tolerance policy against illegitimate transfers of administration.
Speaking at the opening of the 95th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Abuja, Kabba stressed that West Africa must remain vigilant, decisive, and united in protecting democratic governance. The session, running from December 10 to 12, comes amid rising military interventions, humanitarian crises, and emergency declarations in several member states.
ECOWAS zero-threat stance guides regional democracy
Kabba said the council’s commitment involves timely reactions, preventive mechanisms, and constructive engagement with transitional states. “Our objective is not to isolate the state, but to foster a credible, inclusive, and time-bound return to democratic governance,” he said, urging ministers to approach the session with dedication, optimism, and cooperation.
He decried the sub-region’s growing security and governance challenges, urging efforts to safeguard peace, protect democratic institutions, and ensure that citizens achieve stability and development.
In his remarks, ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray outlined the agenda, including reviewing the community’s budget, financial status, trade schemes, and regional electricity market. He also named Aliko Dangote Pioneer Chairperson of the ECOWAS Business Council to promote intra-regional trade and investment.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, also emphasized the importance of ECOWAS decisions in defending constitutional order, promoting inclusive dialogue, and supporting credible political transitions. She noted that West Africa’s youth—over 65 percent of the population rely on ECOWAS to chart a path toward progress and opportunity.
Finally, the 95th Ordinary Session shows that more and more people in the region agree that maintaining democracy, strengthening stability, and promoting economic integration are all important for West Africa’s future.
