Former President Goodluck Jonathan says recent coups in some African countries posed threats to democracy, security and sustainable development of West Africa.

Mr Jonathan, who spoke at a two-day ECOWAS Council of the Wise (CoW) strategic retreat and planning workshop in Lagos, recalled that three military coups were witnessed in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and coup attempts in Niger and Guinea Bissau.

“This development poses a serious threat to democracy in ECOWAS, especially at a time that onslaught of militants and terrorists across the Sahel and frontline countries have worsened the security situation in the sub-region,” he said.

Mr Jonathan, chairperson of CoW noted that the commission was determined to restore peace in the troubled countries.

“The ECOWAS Commission and the Authority of Heads of State and governments have been working hard to restore peace and constitutionality in troubled member nations and return ECOWAS to the days of glory,” he said.

The former president noted that CoW’s task was challenging, which required playing active roles in mediation and consultations to prevent and resolve conflicts.

He added that the council should be able to catalyse an engagement process that would deepen the roots of democracy in the sub-regions.

“We will undertake a comprehensive briefing on the ECOWAS early mechanisms and develop modalities for the operationalisation of the Council and members to jointly develop and validate a one-year plan of action,” the former president added.

Francis Behanzin, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, noted that the essence of the meeting was to strategise preventive action to avoid further crisis in African nations.

(NAN)