ABUJA, NIGERIA – Head of the Liberian Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr., Monday, December 8, 2025, issued a critique of ECOWAS leaders, accusing them of ignoring glaring early warning signs of political instability across the region, especially in Guinea-Bissau. Speaking at the ECOWAS Parliament Headquarters in Abuja, Senator Snowe argued that the current crisis in Benin reflects a broader pattern of negligence within the regional bloc, which he says has repeatedly failed to respond decisively to democratic backsliding in member states.
According to Senator Snowe, the situation in Guinea-Bissau should have served as a wake-up call long before the attempted coup in Benin. He alleged that former President Umaro Sissoco Embaló dissolved parliament, targeted opposition figures, and undermined democratic institutions without attracting serious corrective action from ECOWAS. Despite these alleged abuses, Snowe said, Embaló was elevated to the position of Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State, which he described as a troubling endorsement of undemocratic behavior.
Senator Snowe further accused Embaló of continuing to meddle in his country’s affairs despite having lost his mandate. He claimed the former president handed power to the military but still influences political decisions, and that Embaló has been contacting former and current Liberian officials in an attempt to discredit him. Snowe said these actions show how weak the region’s democratic safeguards have become in recent years.
His remarks followed a briefing by Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, who addressed the Parliament on the political and economic state of the subregion. Dr. Touray acknowledged that West Africa is facing increasing democratic reversals, with several countries experiencing coups, contested elections, and constitutional manipulation. He stressed the need for stronger political will and coordinated policies to prevent further instability.
Dr. Touray also urged member states to remit their ECOWAS levies on time and adopt national policies that protect regional funding from political interference. Senator Snowe echoed these concerns, warning that ECOWAS cannot effectively respond to crises without stable financing. He argued that the region’s inability to enforce its own standards has emboldened undemocratic actors and weakened the credibility of the organization.
As Snowe addressed these issues, ECOWAS issued a statement condemning an attempted military takeover in the Republic of Benin. The regional body expressed shock over the events of Sunday, December 7, 2025, when a group of soldiers seized the state broadcaster and announced the overthrow of President Patrice Talon. ECOWAS denounced the act as an unconstitutional assault on the will of the Beninese people and called for full respect of the nation’s constitution.
ECOWAS warned that the leaders behind the attempted coup would be held individually and collectively responsible for any loss of life or destruction of property. The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the government of Benin, including the possible deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force to safeguard the country’s constitutional order and territorial integrity.
The situation in Benin escalated rapidly when the self-declared Military Committee for Refoundation (CMR) announced the dissolution of state institutions, suspension of the constitution, and closure of national borders. Their televised statement promised a “new era of fraternity, justice and work,” but the announcement plunged the country into chaos, with reports of gunfire near key government installations in Cotonou.
Although the soldiers succeeded in temporarily taking over the state broadcaster, government officials swiftly countered their claims. Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari reassured the public that most of the armed forces remained loyal to President Talon and insisted that the mutineers controlled only the television station. Bakari said efforts were underway to restore full order and prevent the coup attempt from expanding.
The attempted takeover comes at a politically sensitive moment, with Benin’s presidential election scheduled for April 2026 to conclude President Talon’s second and final term. The ruling coalition’s nomination of Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni has stirred intense debate, highlighting the growing tension in a region already shaken by multiple constitutional crises. As uncertainty persists in Benin, the international community continues to monitor developments closely, awaiting confirmation of President Talon’s safety and the broader military’s loyalty.
