US EditionWest African bloc says region is in a state of emergency amid surge in coups, insecurity
ECOWAS cites rising coups, electoral erosion, and security threats as reasons for the emergency declaration, aiming to deter further unconstitutional power grabs, a commission leader said.
- On Tuesday, ECOWAS Commission President Oumar Touray declared the West African region in a state of emergency to the bloc's mediation and security council in Abuja.
- On Sunday, soldiers appeared on Benin state TV to announce government dissolution in a failed coup attempt, two days before Touray's address; last month, a coup in Guinea-Bissau removed former President Umaro Embalo.
- Nigeria's Senate approved President Bola Tinubu's request to deploy troops to Benin, and Nigeria carried out airstrikes on armored vehicles at Benin's request, ECOWAS Commission President Oumar Touray said.
- It was not immediately clear whether the declaration is formal or binding, and the bloc has faced criticism for uneven responses; analysts say it may seek to restore ECOWAS's credibility after the Niger 2023 threatened intervention.
- Touray warned the region faces a growing erosion of electoral inclusivity and said member states witness actions undermining constitutional principles as observers worry coups could become mainstream in West Africa.
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13 Articles
West African bloc says region is in a state of emergency amid surge in coups, insecurity
Coups and attempted coups in West Africa, as well as escalating security challenges across its member states, have left the region in a state of emergency, a regional official said on Tuesday.
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West African bloc says region is in a state of emergency after surge in coups
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Coups and attempted coups in West Africa, along with escalating security challenges, have left the region in a state of emergency…
West African Bloc Declares State of Emergency Following Surge in Coups
COUPS and attempted coups across West Africa, coupled with escalating security challenges, have prompted the region to be declared in a state of emergency, a leader of the regional bloc confirmed on Tuesday. Omar Touray, President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, addressed the bloc’s Mediation and Security Council following a failed coup attempt in Benin, the latest in a series of military takeovers. Last mon…
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