The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Tuesday announced a state of emergency following a wave of coups and attempted coups that have destabilized several member countries of the regional bloc.

The declaration was made during the 55th session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council in Abuja, Nigeria, by the president of ECOWAS, 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 escalating 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, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea-Bissau. A coup attempt took place this week 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 additionally guarantees a citizen’s right to “participate freely in the government of his country, either directly or through freely chosen representatives.”