Presidents and their deputies from West Africa convened in Nigeria for a regional meeting focused on recent coup attempts in the region. The agenda was significantly influenced by a successful coup in Guinea-Bissau in November and a foiled military takeover in Benin just a week ago, which have raised concerns within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
ECOWAS has faced numerous coup incidents since 2020, with Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Niger still under military rule. Alieu Touray, the ECOWAS commission president, emphasized the importance of regional solidarity during his opening remarks at the summit in Abuja.
The summit, originally scheduled prior to the latest coup attempts, prominently featured discussions on a recent ECOWAS mission to Guinea-Bissau, the situation in Benin, trade liberalization measures, and the ongoing security challenges in the Sahel region, where jihadist groups are active.
Additionally, the topic of negotiations with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), formed by countries that left ECOWAS, was crucial given the escalation of violence. Sierra Leone President Julius Bio, the current ECOWAS chair, highlighted the interconnectedness of regional security threats.
Notably, heads of state from Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, both suspended from ECOWAS, were absent from the summit. President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria was also not present, with Vice President Kashim Shettima representing him.
Democratic backsliding continues to affect civilian governments in West Africa, as illustrated by the recent contentious elections in the Ivory Coast, where President Alassane Ouattara was elected to a fourth term under controversial circumstances.
