Ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on May 28, stakeholders across the region have warned that military coups and attempts by some civilian leaders to cling to power through constitutional manipulations are threatening regional stability.
The stakeholders also called for immediate and holistic reform of the regional bloc.
They made the call in Abuja at a high-level forum, organised by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and the West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS), with the theme: ‘ECOWAS @ 50, Reform or Disintegrate: Which pathway for the Regional Bloc’.
CDD Senior Fellow, Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim, noted ECOWAS’s historical role in promoting democracy and integration in West Africa.
He, however, warned that recent developments, including military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea, posed significant challenges to the bloc’s cohesion and must be addressed.
According to him, ECOWAS has been instrumental in deepening democracy in the West African region, but noted that the emergence of unconstitutional regimes threatens the unity and progress that have been achieved.
Ibrahim stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue with the Sahelian countries that have experienced coups, advocating for their reintegration into ECOWAS through a renewed commitment to democratic principles.
He said: “We recognize we are facing a major crisis, especially following the emergence of coup d’etat in the region, specifically in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea. This is a huge challenge that eventually led to the emergence of a different organization for the Sahelian countries. We feel that we must take the long view and that long view means, first and foremost, we remain on the path of democratic consolidation for West Africa.
“Secondly, that we continue to talk to the Sahelians who have left because they are opting out of democracy, that they should see the value of democracy in the medium term, and on the basis of that revised vision of democracy, we can engage in discussions on how they can come back.
“The third issue, which we feel very strongly about, is that West Africa was set up for regional integration. The three Sahelian countries that are trying to opt out have no access to the sea, are very dependent on their neighbors and therefore, more than anybody else they need regional integration and that in the medium term the logic of regional integration would be seen by these countries and they will consider returning to the fold.”
He also noted the region’s economic struggles, saying that West Africa now hosts one of the largest populations of impoverished people globally.
Speaking, chairman of the CDD Board, Comrade John Odah, reflected on ECOWAS’s 50-year journey, acknowledging both achievements and challenges.
He urged civil society organizations to critically evaluate the bloc’s successes and shortcomings and to actively support the vision of regional integration.
“ECOWAS was established to integrate 15 sub-Saharan African countries socially, economically, culturally, and politically. Despite challenges, significant progress has been made. It’s imperative for civil society to ensure that the dream of ECOWAS integration is not aborted,” Odah said.
He urged stakeholders to interrogate what has been successful and what have been the challenges in the 50-year history of ECOWAS integration, and to contribute in whatever way possible to ensure the dream of ECOWAS integration is not aborted.
Speaking on behalf of WADEMOS, the Program Manager, CDD-Ghana, and Network Coordinator, WADEMOS, Paul Osei-Kuffour, said ECOWAS is facing threats and vulnerabilities that are at the core of its foundation and existence and could undermine its legitimacy and relevance.
He said that theme of the event reflects the reality of the situation confronting the region, such as the exit of the three countries and the formation of the AES.
“The regional body has also been criticised for not doing much to integrate the voices of community citizens in ECOWAS decision-making processes and the realization of the constitutional convergence principles in its structures and institutions,” Osei-Kuffour said.
“And at the global level, which ECOWAS is not an exception, we are seeing persistent attacks on multilateral institutions as part of the playbook of authoritarian leaders hiding under the claim of sovereignty.”
