West Africa is undergoing profound political and security transformations. Military coups, the erosion of democratic governance, the expansion of violent extremist groups and shifting geopolitical alliances are reshaping the region’s political landscape. What do these developments mean for the future of democracy, regional cooperation and peace?

In his keynote address at the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung West Africa’s conference “Political Crises in West Africa: Rethinking Strategies for Consolidating Democratic Gains”, held in Abidjan from 23 to 25 September 2026, Professor Jibrin Ibrahim, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), examines the structural roots of the region’s interconnected crises and the implications of a changing regional and global order.

This publication presents an abridged version of his keynote address.