Undemocratic behavior of some leaders threatens future of ECOWAS - Alhaji Darbo

Minority Leader in the Gambia National Assembly and a member of the current 6th Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Alhaji S. Darbo has expressed great fear for the future of the West Africa sub-regional bloc as far as democratic tendency is concerned following the behavior of some of the leaders of the community.

He wondered how a former chairman of the Authority of Heads of States and Government of ECOWAS, Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embaló could put the political future of his country in dilemma; postponing presidential and Parliamentary elections sine die.

He noted that under the watchful eyes of ECOWAS, the Guinea Bissau Parliament was dissolved five months after elections. “I condemned that kind of democracy; the people of Guinea Bissau have suffered for far too long. Democracy should be given a chance to prevail”.

This came to light on Monday, May 26, 2025, at the ongoing First Ordinary Session in Abuja Nigeria, where Guinea Bissau, Cabo Verde and Benin presented their Country report at the plenary, and stated, “now they are reporting a deadlock regarding presidential and Parliamentary elections; ECOWAS should be very much concerned.

“I fear for the fate and future of ECOWAS if an immediate chairman of the Authority of Heads of states can put ECOWAS in this predicament, I fear for the future of ECOWAS; ECOWAS should act immediately. This has a larger implication”.

HE queried what the current move to address the issue of getting a new date for presidential and Parliamentary elections is; and wondered if the development will not undermine the peace and security of the Country.