Our conversation this week is in continuation of the last episode which looked at the multidimensional crisis rocking the ECOWAS bloc.

You would agree that the degenerating socio-political climate across the ECOWAS requires immediate intervention to forestall further reversals of democracy in the region, with term elongation being a major driver.

A growing number of governments in sub-Saharan Africa are now cracking down on civil society organisations addressing democratic issues and the non-adherence to the rule of law, especially in the coup states of Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea.
Governments are not only shrinking the space for civic activism, but also destroying the backbone of democracy and inclusive development.
This development formed the fulcrum of a solidarity workshop organized by YIAGA Africa, Africtivistes and NED. This brought together CSOs across Africa to adopt a new approach towards solidarity that enables social movements and civic groups to build collective power to combat democratic backsliding not just in the subregion but Africa at large.
At the event, WADR caught up with Paul Osei-Kuffour, Network Coordinator of West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network and Cynthia Mbamalu, the Director of Programmes at YIAGA Africa. Both discusses a number of issues as it affects democracy in the subregion.