Touray: Nigeria’s Role in Thwarting Benin Attempted Coup Should Be Standard to Safeguard Democracy

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Tuesday applauded Nigeria’s role in quashing the attempted coup in Benin Republic.

Speaking at the opening of the 55th Ordinary session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at the ministerial level in Abuja, the President of ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, decried the recent insecurity in the subregion, saying it won’t be out of place to say that the region is in a state of emergency.

Touray, while extolling the contribution of Nigeria in truncating the overthrow of democratic governance in Benin Republic, asked that Nigeria should be given a standing ovation by the gathering.

He noted the swift intervention of Nigeria’s military within a short period to stand off the coupists, insisting that this should be the standard in the region if democracy must be protected.

The ECOWAS Commission President said it won’t be out of place to say that the region is in a state of emergency with the current political situation, terrorism and banditry.

He noted that: “Events of the last few weeks have shown the imperative of serious introspection on the future of our democracy and the urgent need to invest in the security of our community.

“Faced with this situation, Excellencies, it is safe to declare that our community is in a state of emergency. For that, the sessions of the mediation and security council should be organized more regularly beyond the two ordinary sessions for the next one year. We must confront these threats with the attention they deserve.

“We must pool our resources to confront the threats of terrorism and banditry, which operate without respect for territorial boundaries.”

He therefore called for constant meetings of the mediation and security council beyond the two ordinary sessions for the next one year, calling for an urgent need to confront these threats with the attention they deserve.

Touray said the region must pool its resources to confront the threats of terrorism and banditry, which operate without respect for territorial boundaries, while lamenting the scarring humanitarian figure as a fallout of insecurity within the sub-region.

He noted that the recent data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa as of October 2025 is approximately 7.6 million individuals forcibly displayed and an additional 1,094,742 refugees and asylum seekers.

The ECOWAS President said the different risk levels across the region demands immediate and concerted action.

He listed the risk factors to include the persistence of military interventions (Guinea-Bissau and Republic of Benin just days ago) and non-compliance with transition norms in Guinea, as we face a military leader turning into a civilian leader.

He also highlighted other causes of humanitarian challenge to include growing erosion of electoral inclusivity across multiple states; Expanding influence of terrorists and armed groups and criminal networks threatening regional stability.

Touray pointed out the need for constant monitoring of political situations within member states.

He said: “This council needs to constantly monitor the political and security situation in our community to provide guidance and to enable regional action.”