Jibrin Ibrahim Addresses West Africa's Political Crisis

Jibrin Ibrahim attended a conference organized by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, focusing on the peace and security landscape in West Africa. The region has faced political turmoil for over a decade, exacerbated by structural issues like widespread poverty, food insecurity, and the climate crisis, alongside insurgencies from violent extremist groups.

The recent coups in Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Niger, and Guinea Bissau have created an existential crisis for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its democratic model. With five out of fifteen member states experiencing democratic backsliding, fears of further instability have risen, particularly following an attempted coup in Benin Republic.

Some affected nations have formed the Association of Sahelian States (AES) and adopted populist strategies, criticizing French neo-colonialism. The geopolitical landscape is further complicated by attacks on Air Base 101 in Niamey, Niger Republic, which has faced multiple assaults from Islamic State and Al-Qaida, as well as an attempted coup by rogue soldiers.