Representatives of Civil Society Organisations across West Africa have in a joint statement bemoaned the alarming recession of democratic principles and values, growing authoritarianism, shrinking civic space, increasing public disaffection over bad governance and recurring coups d’état in West Africa.

They stated that while they recognise citizens’ increasing expression of frustration due to unfulfilled democratic dividends and a lack of responsive governance, “we unequivocally oppose coups and military interventions in politics as a panacea to the governance challenges facing the region.”

“We emphasise the need for citizens' voices to be heard, and for their legitimate concerns to be acknowledged and addressed through peaceful and democratic means,” they added.

To address the growing instability in the region, the group of Civil Society Organisations at the maiden West Africa Civil Society Week 2023 held in Lagos, Nigeria, came up with eight resolutions to help foster democratic principles and values across West Africa.

The first resolution was a call on the ECOWAS to not proceed with their planned military intervention in Niger following the Niger coup.

“We stand united against any military intervention in Niger, or in any part of the region, by ECOWAS that could have destabilizing ramifications within the region. We advocate for the restoration of constitutional order through dialogue and negotiation, in line with the principles of democracy and the interests of the people,” their statement read.

They also called for the protection of civic spaces and the fostering of inclusive development by governments across the West African region.

“We emphasise the importance of protecting, strengthening, and expanding civic space at this critical juncture, with particular emphasis to enable civil society organisations to thrive and contribute effectively to democratic governance, national and regional development.

“We reject any attempts to curtail freedom of expression, association, and assembly, which are fundamental to the functioning of a vibrant civil society. We call on governments to uphold human rights and ensure the safety of civil society actors,” they said.

They further urged the ECOWAS to reassert its moral authority and regain the trust of citizens.

“There is no better time than now for the ‘ECOWAS of the People’ mantra to translate into tangible commitment to the promotion of the well-being of the people of West Africa. We advocate for the operationalization of the ECOWAS Social and Economic Council (ECOSOCC) to strengthen collaboration between ECOWAS and civil society, moving forward.”

The Representatives of Civil Society Organizations across West Africa appealed to the ECOWAS to adopt the revised supplementary protocol on Democracy and Good Governance as amended, as well as commit to a uniform application of the provisions of the protocol in response to unconstitutional change of government.

They also highlighted the importance of unity among civil society organizations to amplify their impact and contributions to democracy, peace, and prosperity of the region.

And additionally called for the supporting and safeguarding of youth engagement by providing platforms, training, and resources and ensuring that their voices are genuinely considered in the Civic Space.

The group stated that achieving lasting peace and prosperity in West Africa would require collective and multi stakeholder efforts hence the need for governments, ECOWAS, and development partners to prioritise the well-being of citizens over political interests.

“Civil society plays a vital role in advocating for the rights and welfare of the people, and we commit to sustained engagement, collaborative action, and innovative approaches to advance these goals,” they said.

“We underscore the importance of the principle of leaving-no-voices-behind and, in this regard, urge both state and non-state actors to prioritise inclusion, especially the involvement of the youth and women, in all actions geared towards the progress of our region,” they concluded.