The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Council of Ministers has called on member states to deepen their commitment, ensuring democratic dividends and development spread across the sub-region.

Timothy Kabba, chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers and Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, made the call in Abuja at the 55th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at the Ministerial level.

The call comes amid two days of intensive deliberations on the sub-region’s political and democratic challenges.

He stressed that the sub-region is not exempt from the vibrations emanating from the contested power dynamics of a multicoloured world.

Mr Kabba said, “This calls for all of us to look back into our governance system, to assess ourselves as a community and member state, and to ensure that we make every effort.

“We recommit ourselves to deliver more dividends of democracy, to put our people at the heart of our political decisions, to provide for our people, to uphold the requirements of our constitution, and to respect the rule of law.

“Our community is challenged, but our leaders have demonstrated the resilience of our people and the resilience of our institutions. The incident of December 7, 2025, over the attempt to subvert the constitutional order in the Republic of Benin renewed ECOWAS’ commitment to zero tolerance for unconstitutional takeover of government.

“We still face many challenges, but leaders have committed themselves to restoring constitutional order and preventing the recurrence of a coup d’état in our sovereignty.”

He observed the critics’ view that ECOWAS focuses too much on political insecurity.

Mr Kabba stressed that without peace, security, and stability, there can be no development and that these three pillars are the foundation for ECOWAS’ priority for community peace, security, and stability.

He thanked the council for its commitment to peace and security, ensuring a coup-free sovereignty that guarantees peace, security, and economic development for the community.

The chairman urged ministers to work closely together to build trust as the bedrock of such a partnership, adding that without trust, efforts and resources may not yield desired results.

Mr Kabba identified some of the aging challenges plaguing the sub-region, including poverty, disease, climate change, and climate-induced farming, as a source of insecurity.

“Our community remains one of the fairest in Africa; I can travel from Freetown to Abuja on just an identity card.

“We must be proud of our forefathers who initiated this vision of a community where people work together and live together in peace,” he said.

(NAN)