As the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) marks its 50th anniversary, stakeholders have raised critical questions about the bloc’s future amid widespread democratic decline and instability across the region.
Speaking at the ECOWAS High-Level Convening held in Abuja on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, Mr. Aigbe Austin, Regional Officer of the West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS), expressed concern over the rise in military coups and democratic backsliding in West Africa.
“We have been witnessing a resurgence of coups and democratic regression, even in Nigeria, where the ECOWAS Chair, President Bola Tinubu, leads a nation grappling with its own democratic challenges,” Austin stated. “If Nigeria, the chair of ECOWAS, is backsliding, what does that mean for other member states?”
Mr. Austin highlighted the original ideals of ECOWAS, emphasizing the need for institutional reforms rather than disintegration. “The union offers enormous benefits, such as the ease of movement for West Africans using travel certificates instead of passports. But with countries exiting the bloc, these advantages are fading,” he noted.
Citing the deteriorating political landscapes in countries like Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, and the uncertain situation in Togo, he warned that democracy is under severe threat, particularly in Francophone nations where constitutional amendments are often used to extend presidential terms an action he likened to “civilian coups.”
“ECOWAS must become a stronger, reformed institution that champions good governance,” he said. “We need to be active citizens, understand what ECOWAS stands for, and push for a people-centered community, not one dominated by leaders clinging to power.”
Former Country Director of ActionAid, Mrs. Ene Obi, echoed Austin’s views, stressing the importance of transparency, accountability, and unity in the region.
“Where there are coups, suppression follows. Citizens must find ways to express their voices. This is not a call for disintegration but for a more unified and responsive ECOWAS,” she said.
The convening, themed “Reform or Disintegrate: Which Pathway for the Regional Bloc?”, was organized by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in partnership with WADEMOS. The event featured a welcome address by CDD Director Dr. Dauda Garuba, opening remarks by WADEMOS Project Coordinator Mr. Paul Osei Kuffour, and a keynote address delivered by Prof. Jibril Ibrahim, a Senior Officer at CDD.
In a joint resolution, stakeholders at the convening agreed that ECOWAS must prioritize both political and economic integration to remain relevant. They called for a reimagined, resilient ECOWAS that promotes trade, defends democracy, and implements people-focused reforms turning the threat of disintegration into an opportunity for meaningful transformation.
Edited by Nzubechukwu Eze
