Dr. Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, has highlighted serious security and democracy crises facing West Africa, warning they risk derailing the sub-region’s integration efforts. Speaking at the African Public Square conference in Abuja, he stressed the urgent need for citizen-led reforms to redefine ECOWAS’s future for the next 15 years.
He pointed to political exclusion, manipulation of governments, and escalating insecurity, particularly in the Sahel, as key challenges. Touray said the organization must confront these democratic crises and embrace inclusivity to restore stability and legitimacy.
Former Ekiti Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi added that governance failures—such as corruption, exclusion, and weak institutions—are at the heart of West Africa’s instability, outweighing insurgency threats. He warned military takeovers are not solutions and called for a people-first approach based on justice and accountability.
Experts at the conference also urged ECOWAS to shift away from elite-driven governance towards citizen engagement, focusing on youth and marginalized groups to sustain regional peace and development.
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