By Abu Hassan
Abuja, Nigeria – In a strong statement emphasizing regional ownership and unity, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, yesterday called for a re-evaluation of democratic principles in West Africa, urging a move away from Western ideologies and advocating for a locally shaped model. Speaking at a stakeholder’s roundtable on the Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD) in Abuja, Tuggar stressed the need for collective action to combat declining public trust, strengthen fragile institutions, and address rising threats to constitutional rule across the region.
The roundtable, attended by representatives from West African member states, as well as chairpersons from Nigeria’s Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Foreign Affairs, was described by the Minister as a “pivotal moment for the future of democracy in West Africa.”
“The Regional Partnership for Democracy, or RPD, is not merely a policy framework. It is a bold assertion that democracy in West Africa must be sustained, strengthened, and most importantly, shaped by us,” Tuggar declared. He championed long-term thinking and greater integration of democratic principles into national and regional governance structures.
Minister Tuggar also pointed to the detrimental effects of external pressures on the region, particularly citing the failures of past international strategies like the EU Sahel Strategy (2015–2020) and the criminalization of migration-related activities, which disproportionately affected countries like Niger. He further criticized fear-driven narratives surrounding migration in the Global North, arguing that, “when managed effectively, migration fosters a scenario where cultures complement one another.”
Highlighting internal governance challenges such as poor local leadership and a lack of representation as contributing factors to democratic instability, Tuggar advocated for the RPD’s regional ownership. He described it as a flexible platform enabling member states to define their own reform paths, aligning with the African Union Charter on Democracy.
The Minister commended the United Nations Development Programme for their technical and strategic support in co-developing the RPD framework, underscoring the importance of African-led democratic renewal. He concluded by urging member states to endorse the RPD, integrate its principles into national governance, align it with AU commitments, and serve as anchor states driving innovation and peer learning.
“We are not here to lecture, nor are we here to impose. We are here to co-create a vision of democratic renewal led by Africans, for Africans,” Tuggar affirmed, signaling a commitment to a regionally-driven and contextually relevant approach to democracy in West Africa. The endorsement and implementation of the RPD are expected to be key topics of discussion within regional governing bodies in the coming months.
