A dozen Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, met in Lungi, Sierra Leone on July 19, 2026. They issued the usually bland communique on a single currency, supported the illegal violation of a sister country’s sovereignty and made false declarations on the region’s political situation and democracy. The West African leaders spoke tongue-in-cheek when they declared that they are satisfied with “the steady progress made in democratic consolidation and political governance, as well as the relative stability and resilience of the region, amidst increasing geopolitical and geostrategic pressures.” But what satisfaction in democratic consolidation can they be talking about when, of the current twelve countries in ECOWAS, Guinea-Bissau is under direct military rule, the five-year military junta in Guinea headed by General Mamadi Doumbouya has just on May 31, 2026 shed its military uniform for civilian regalia with the people having no free choice, while Presidents Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire and Faure Gnassingbé of Togo are civilian coup plotters who continue to subvert the constitutional term limits in their countries?
In fact, Gnassingbé has been in power for twenty-one years since his 2005 coup. ECOWAS leaders lied when they talked about “the consolidation of democracy, peace, security, and the maintenance of social cohesion and stability in the region.” We who live in the West African region experience the contrary. Interestingly, in the same communique these leaders who talked about “the consolidation of democracy, peace, security…” in the region also expressed their “deep concern over the continued deterioration of the security situation across the region, particularly in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, characterized by attacks, kidnapping and disruptive operations by Terrorist Armed Groups, TAGs…” A specific evidence of their claimed consolidation of democracy and peace in West Africa is the unfolding events in Guinea-Bissau.
On this, the ECOWAS leaders claim to take note of “the efforts underway in Guinea-Bissau to conclude the country’s political transition through a constitutional referendum slated for 30 August 2026 and the holding of general elections scheduled for 6 December 2026.” But the ECOWAS leaders should be aware that there is no “political transition” in that country.
Summary from source