By Mark Longyen
The ECOWAS Parliament has called on regional leaders to urgently confront the sub-region’s multifaceted challenges of rising insecurity, fragile democracy and economic stagnation toward deepening integration and economic growth.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Memounatou Ibrahima, made the appeal, while declaring open the two-week 2026 First Ordinary Session of the Parliament on Monday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the session’s events include swearing-in of new parliamentarians, presentation of Country Reports, preparations for Special Summit on the Future of Regional Integration, among others.
She said West African leaders must remain steadfast in defending democracy, while also responding to growing internal and external pressures, stressing that subregional peace should not be taken for granted.
“Let us make this session a decisive turning point in our efforts to strengthen our democracies and fulfil the promise of effective, visible regional integration for our peoples.
“Developments within our region reaffirm the view that democracy remains the unshakeable foundation of our Community.
“The task before us is immense, but our determination is unwavering,” Ibrahima added.
According to her, democracy is the bedrock of ECOWAS, hence, regional leaders should exercise caution and responsibility in handling emerging threats, particularly in politically fragile Member States.
“The Parliament places high value on stability and peace within our West African sub-region. Beyond this conviction, we must remain vigilant.
“Accordingly, it condemns the terrorist attacks carried out on 25 April 2026 in several localities in the Republic of Mali and expresses its solidarity with the Malian people,” she said.
The Speaker further highlighted the region’s exposure to terrorism, piracy, cross-border crime and climate change, describing them as persistent threats requiring coordinated action.
She also condemned recent incidents of violence in the region, and expressed solidarity with the affected Member States.
“In this regard, I call on the authorities of Guinea-Bissau to demonstrate responsibility by restoring constitutional order in that sister country,” she said.
She noted that the Session was holding at a time when the world was in a state of turmoil, marked by tensions and violent conflicts in the Middle-East, Europe, and Africa, compounding the sub-region’s problems.
“These crises, with their troubling energy implications, are also driving inflationary pressures, particularly on foodstuffs and agricultural inputs, thereby seriously affecting our already fragile economies.
“Faced with the multiplication of flashpoints, no region is immune. The message must be clear: peace cannot be decreed.
“It must be patiently built through dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect. The ECOWAS Parliament must therefore echo this imperative to our Member States and partners,” she added.
Also speaking, Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker, Nigeria’s House of Representatives, warned that West Africa was at the risk of further instability as democratic governance in the sub-region was facing an existential threat.
Abbas suggested stronger regional mechanisms to safeguard democracy, saying, “the sub-region is facing a defining moment, with declining voter participation, waning public trust, and a resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government.”
He noted that there was growing disillusionment among West African voters, whose citizens continued to reject military rule, as their patience with democratic systems was being tested.
The speaker also suggested that the “ECOWAS Parliament must evolve beyond its advisory role to a stronger legislative authority, improve oversight powers, and a more direct role in regional decision-making.”
Abbas called on the regional lawmakers to also take a more active role on the global stage, drawing lessons from sister parliaments that have scaled up their legislative influence(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza
