COUPS and attempted coups across West Africa, coupled with escalating security challenges, have prompted the region to be declared in a state of emergency, a leader of the regional bloc confirmed on Tuesday.
Omar Touray, President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, addressed the bloc’s Mediation and Security Council following a failed coup attempt in Benin, the latest in a series of military takeovers. Last month, a coup in Guinea-Bissau ousted former President Umaro Embalo.
In response to the Benin incident, Nigeria’s Senate approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy troops to support the Beninese government. Nigeria had also conducted airstrikes on armored vehicles during the attempted takeover, acting at the request of Benin’s authorities.
Touray emphasized the urgent need for reflection on the future of democracy in the region and called for investment in regional security. He stated:
“Events of the last few weeks have shown the imperative of serious introspection on the future of our democracy and the urgent need to invest in the security of our community. Faced with this situation… it is safe to declare that our community is in a state of emergency.”
It remains unclear whether this declaration is formal and what specific measures it might involve. -AP
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