By Perpetua Onuegbu
Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) has unveiled a five-year strategic plan aimed at reversing the troubling trajectory of democratic backsliding and worsening poverty across West Africa.
Director of CDD-West Africa, Dr Dauda Garuba, disclosed this at the unveiling of the plan in Abuja.
Garuba said that in spite of the nearly three decades of progress in promoting democratic governance and regional stability, recent developments showed that the gains were increasingly under threat.
According to him, the region now faces a mix of progress and setbacks, with countries like Senegal and Ghana, maintaining democratic stability and others grappling with authoritarian tendencies.
He cited the resurgence of military coups and constitutional manipulations by civilian leaders in countries like Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Togo, alongside the declining public trust in elections and governance systems weakened by corruption.
“The rise of military-led populism in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea-Bissau further complicates the region’s democratic landscape,” he said.
Garuba noted that beyond governance and security concerns, the region also faced worsening humanitarian situation.
“According to the 2024 Global Report on Food Crises, about 44.3 million people in West Africa and the Sahel are facing acute food insecurity, while 9.7 million have been displaced and 14 million children suffer from acute malnutrition.
“In response, CDD-West Africa has launched its 2026–2030 Strategic Plan as a roadmap to defend democracy, prevent conflict and promote people-centred development.
“We aim to defend democracy, stop violence and support development for all people. The new plan focuses on stopping democratic decline, preventing conflict, rebuilding peace and reducing inequality.
“We will work to strengthen democratic institutions, involve the public more and improve living conditions. The plan treats democracy and development as closely linked and we believe that working together brings real progress,” he said.
The CDD boss explained that democracy and development are inter-connected, stressing the need for collaborative action among governments, civil society, businesses and international partners to achieve sustainable progress.
In a keynote address, a former Director of CDD, Prof. Jubrin Ibrahim, said that economic development was only meaningful when it benefitted the majority of people.
Ibrahim argued that Nigeria and West Africa had struggled to achieve people-centred development, as they were discouraged from proper economic planning by institutions like IMF and World Bank.
Drawing on global examples such as China, India and Brazil, he emphasised that countries which had successfully reduced poverty did so through deliberate and centralised planning, unlike those that relied solely on market forces and saw limited progress.
Ibrahim said that the crisis of democracy was often caused by self-proclaimed democrats who ultimately undermined it.
“Relying on political elites alone has proven ineffective, as they can betray democratic ideals.
“Instead, true and lasting democracy can only be achieved when ordinary citizens actively participate in defending and sustaining it, since they have the most at stake,” Ibrahim stated.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the occasion also featured a panel discussion session on the topic: “Democracy failing or the People failing?: Reflections on the State of Democracy and Development in West Africa.”
Members of the panel included Prof. Nana Tanko, Chief Executive Officer, African Policy Research Institute; Dr Hussaini Abdu, Country Director, CARE International and Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu, among others.
The discussion highlighted deep challenges facing democracy in West Africa, emphasising that the problem was not just military interference but systemic failures within democratic practice itself.
The panelists agreed that democracy had not entirely failed, but that both governments and citizens shared responsibility for its weaknesses.
They argued that the breakdown of the social contract—poor infrastructure, healthcare and governance—has fuelled instability and return of coups to the region.
They concluded that “silver lining” lied in empowered citizens, supported by women, youth and technology, driving a more inclusive, responsive and effective democratic system.
NAN reports that CDD-West Africa, established in 1997, has worked closely with institutions, such as Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and African Union (AU) to advance democracy, peace building and inclusive development. (NAN)
