Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, Mr. Timothy Kabba, has called for a firm, united stance against unconstitutional changes of government across West Africa.
Kabba made the call at the opening of the 95th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, which runs from Dec. 10 to Dec. 12 in Abuja.
He said the appeal was necessitated by recent military takeovers, humanitarian crises, and emergency situations affecting several member states.
“We must remain united, vigilant, and decisive in upholding a zero-threat stance of ECOWAS against unconstitutional changes of government,” Kabba said.
According to him, the region’s commitment must translate into timely reactions, measured responses, and strengthened preventive mechanisms.
He emphasised that ECOWAS would continue constructive engagement with member states currently under transition.
“Our objective is not to isolate any state, but to foster a credible, inclusive, and time-bound return to democratic governance.
“We will speak with a unified voice, guided by our protocol on democracy and good governance, to ensure swift restoration of constitutional order,” he added.
Kabba urged participants to approach the session with renewed dedication, cooperation and optimism, stressing the need to safeguard peace, protect democratic institutions, and ensure citizens’ aspirations for stability and development are not derailed.
He said the council would examine a wide range of memoranda and reports to gain deeper insight into the state of the community and identify areas needing improvement.
In his goodwill message, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, urged ministers to carefully review memoranda requiring collective decisions.
These include the annual work programme, the community budget, the financial situation of ECOWAS institutions, and the status of implementation of the community levy protocol, among others.
Touray also noted that briefings would be presented on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), the ECOWAS single currency project, and the financial challenges facing the West African Power Pool, due to debts owed by national electricity companies.
He further disclosed that ECOWAS had appointed Alhaji Aliko Dangote as the pioneer Chairperson of the ECOWAS Business Council to promote intra-regional trade and investment.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in her remarks, urged the ministers to take decisions that would help shape recommendations for the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
“We must remain steadfast in defending constitutional order, promoting inclusive political dialogue, and supporting credible transitions that reinforce stability,” she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu added that West Africa’s future depends on deeper trade integration, stronger value chains, increased investments, and opportunities for the region’s youthful population—65 per cent of whom are under 25.