Nigeria: West African Leaders Reaffirm “Zero Tolerance “for Military Coups. LIBREVILLE, 16 December 2025 (AGP) – At the 68th summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), held in Abuja, Nigeria, on Sunday, leaders of the region emphasized their “zero tolerance “stance against military coups.
The summit, dominated by discussions on recent political crises in Benin and Guinea Bissau, also highlighted the ongoing fight against terrorism as a key priority, according to reports.
The situation in Guinea Bissau, where a coup took place last month, and in Benin, where a putsch was thwarted on December 7, was a focal point of the summit. Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, who is also the current president of the ECOWAS Conference of Heads of State, emphasized the need to strengthen the organization, which has been weakened by the departure of three founding members – Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso earlier this year. Bio advocated for a stronger regional integration, achievable only by combating terrorism and violent extremism.
He announced that finance and defense ministers are working on sustainable funding modalities and are preparing to launch a 1650-strong anti-terrorism brigade by the end of 2026. He also highlighted the importance of balancing security, governance, education, and job creation. Looking ahead, Bio expressed his hope for ECOWAS to become a land of opportunities rather than a space for crises.
He set his sights on 2027, when a single currency for the organization’s member states is expected to be launched. Senegal will play a key role in preparing for this, as one of its citizens is set to preside over the ECOWAS Commission from July 2026.
The summit also addressed the issue of political prisoners and members of civil society detained since the electoral process was halted.
While no sanctions were decided upon, leaders indicated the possibility of targeting individuals obstructing the implementation of recommended measures.
A high — level mission is expected to travel to Bissau in the coming days to meet with junta leaders. Further details are expected as the situation unfolds.
