ECOWAS declares regional state of emergency
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Dec. 9 announced a regional state of emergency following a wave of coups and attempted coups that have destabilized several member states of the regional bloc. The declaration was made during the 55th session of the ECOWAS Mediation & Security Council in Abuja, Nigeria, by the president of the bloc, Gambian diplomat Omar Touray.
Touray emphasized that the declaration is not symbolic, but a call for collective action to restore confidence in governance and protect citizens from deepening insecurity. ECOWAS leaders stressed the urgent need to safeguard democracy and the rule of law, warning that unchecked coups could unravel decades of regional integration efforts. The bloc reaffirmed its "zero tolerance" policy for unconstitutional changes of government, pledging stronger sanctions and coordinated security measures.
Since 2020, several military coups d'etat have taken place in West Africa, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. A coup attempt was launched Dec. 6 in Benin, but was thwarted by Nigerian military intervention. A regional crisis is driven by armed insurgencies, economic hardship, and weak institutions, creating viable ground for military rule. Analysts warn that the erosion of constitutional governance undermines the credibility of democratic institutions and threatens long-term stability.
The African Charter on Human and People's Rights, to which each ECOWAS member state is a party, contains multiple articles addressing rights violations which may arise from a coup d'etat. Article 1 obliges governments to recognize and uphold the rights and freedoms contained in the charter. Article 13 guarantees a citizens' right to "participate freely in the government of his country, either directly or through freely chosen representatives."
From JURIST, Dec. 11. Used with permission.
See our last report on the coups d'etat in West Africa.
Nigerian intervention thwarts Benin coup attempt
Benin is returning to normal after an attempted coup on Dec. 6 was thwarted by loyal troops—and crucially the intervention of the Nigerian air force. Some 200 West African soldiers, mainly from Nigeria and Ivory Coast, are now in Benin to support President Patrice Talon. A manhunt for those involved in the plot is also under way, while the leader of the failed coup has reportedly taken refuge in next-door Togo.
Nigeria, which shares a 600-kilometer border with Benin, sent fighter jets on Dec. 7 to blast the mutineers out of a military base and the state TV headquarters—from where they had declared a putsch. The soldiers justified their actions over the government's alleged mishandling of the jihadist threat in the country's north.
Nigeria's rapid response contrasts with its failure to reverse a coup in Niger in 2023. Then, it threatened military action, but the operation was deemed too dangerous by other regional partners. It was also unpopular in Nigeria's north, which shares ethnic links with Niger.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, a long-time critic of coups, has faced domestic criticism over the Benin intervention, at a time when insecurity plagues his own country. (TNH)