The West African Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS),and partners, have tasked the Economic Community of West African (ECOWAS), on reforms to institutionalise presidential term limits to curb tenure elongation.
WADEMOS in collaborations with Tournons La Page (TLP)and Afrikajom made the call at a panel discussion ahead of the ECOWAS Heads of States Summit in Abuja supported by OXFAM and Open Society Foundation.
Prof. David Dosseh, National Coordinator, Tournons La Page-Togo, said that the meeting was aimed at urging ECOWAS to acknowledge the plea of citizens to institutionalise and to implement the principle of limitation of mandates.
Dosseh said that the issue had been going round for more than a decade.
According to him, ordinary citizens no longer understand what is delaying the adoption of such a provision and why leaders hold on to power after their mandates.
“We are in Abuja to tell the heads of states that will gather on Sunday that it is time to reform and to unanimously accept the limitation of the mandates of heads of government.
“Those who hold executive power have to accept the principle of one or two mandates and not more.
“This is indispensable and the heads of state and heads of governments being the supreme organ should accept it,” he said.
He said that the reform was obligatory.
“A partial reform that limits only the mandates of some and not that of others and authorising them to remain in power in eternity is harmful and would disqualify our regional institution,” he said.
Dosseh said that ECOWAS would celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025.
He said that it would be an opportunity to operate a profound and structural reform to consolidate democracy and guarantee more efficiency in democracy.
Mr Austin Aigbe , Regional Advocacy Officer and ECOWAS Liaison Lead WADEMOS, said that Africa has witnessed 26 successful military coups between 2002 to 2023.
Aligbe spoke on the topic “The State of Democracy in West Africa in 2024: the ECOWAS Reform Debate”.
He said that half of the coups occurred in the ECOWAS region.
“Between 2019 to 2024, 10 successful military coups have occurred in seven countries in Africa and six of them took place in West Africa.
“There is a need for ECOWAS to address the issue decisively and prioritise it during its summit on Dec. 15 to ensure the stability and democratic integrity of the Economic Community,” he said .
He urged ECOWAS to incorporate explicit clauses that render any amendments regarding term limits or tenure irrelevant to current officeholders.
He also called for legal safeguards against retrospective application to prevent laws from being applied retrospectively in a manner that affects rights previously established.
“The ECOWAS should declare illegal term elongation a constitutional coup.
“Any constitutional manipulation in favour of a sitting head of state should be deemed a constitutional coup and classified as an unconstitutional change of government (UCG).
“To safeguard against illegal term elongation, ECOWAS must reform and reinforce its commitment to democratic norms by instituting its Supplementary Protocol to meet current challenges,” he said.
Also speaking ,Ms Marie-Josiane Ngah, Project Coordinator, WADEMOS, said that the network had been at the forefront of the campaign against term elongation and for the institutionalisation of the presidential term limits across the region.
According to Ngah, the meeting holds a great significance given the persistent challenges facing ECOWAS in upholding democracy and maintaining regional integration.
“The ongoing threats to democratic governance, coupled with the potential exit of the Sahelian countries, pose serious risks to our collective vision for the region.
“Such an exit could disrupt the progress towards building an ECOWAS of the people, a vision that prioritises grassroots inclusion, democratic accountability, and shared prosperity,” she said.
Ngah said that the meeting provided a platform to reaffirm commitment to democratic principles, and strengthen solidarity among civil society actors, and expand existing strategies to address the underlying challenges threatening the region’s stability.
Mr Sadikh Niass, International Relations Officer, Afrikajom, said that the exit of the sahelian countries from ECOWAS would pose danger on citizens.
Niass said that the group was, therefore, carrying out an advocacy action to draw the attention of leaders to the emergency.
“So, what we are saying today in a loud voice is that ECOWAS should say something on the withdrawal of the Sahelian states during its summit.
“We CSOs meeting here today in Abuja believe that an understanding should be found between the heads of state of the countries of the Sahel so that the regional integration would be preserved”.
