Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, Mr. Timothy Kabba, has called on the regional bloc to adopt a strict zero-tolerance policy against unconstitutional changes of government. His remarks came during the opening of the 95th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, which began on Wednesday, December 10, in Abuja and will run through Friday, December 12.
Kabba stressed that recent military interventions, humanitarian crises, and emergency declarations in several member states underscore the urgent need for decisive action. He said, “We must remain united, vigilant, and resolute in upholding ECOWAS’s zero-tolerance stance against unconstitutional changes of government. Our commitment must translate into timely actions, measured responses, and stronger preventive mechanisms.”
He added that the bloc’s engagement with member states in transition should aim not to isolate them but to foster credible, inclusive, and time-bound returns 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 and the preservation of regional principles without compromise,” Kabba said.
Highlighting the ongoing security and governance challenges in the sub-region, he urged participants to approach the session with renewed dedication and cooperation, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding peace, protecting democratic institutions, and ensuring citizens’ aspirations for stability and development are upheld.
The council plans to examine comprehensive reports and memoranda during the meeting to gain a thorough understanding of the community’s current state and identify areas for improvement.
In his goodwill message, ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Touray encouraged ministers to review memoranda requiring collective decisions, covering the annual work programme, community institutions’ budgets, the implementation of the community levy protocol, and reports from the Monitoring General and Audit Committee. He also highlighted updates on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, the ECOWAS Single Currency, and the West African Power Group, noting challenges due to debt owed by national electricity companies.
Touray further announced the appointment of Alhaji Aliko Dangote as the pioneer Chairperson of the ECOWAS Business Council, aiming to leverage his experience to promote intra-regional trade and investment.
In her welcome remarks, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, called on ministers to make decisions that would shape recommendations for the Authority of Heads of State and Government. She emphasized the need to defend constitutional order, support credible political transitions, and promote inclusive dialogue. Odumegwu-Ojukwu also highlighted the importance of deepening intra-regional trade, strengthening value chains, and creating opportunities for the over 400 million people in the region, especially the youth, who make up about 65 percent of the population.
She stressed, “The region’s future depends on your deliberations over the course of this session. ECOWAS is expected to chart the path toward progress, and your decisions are crucial for the stability and prosperity of West Africa.”
