A new report by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), produced in collaboration with the Observatoire Ivoirien des Droits de l’Homme (OIDH), has uncovered a significant increase in anti-ECOWAS messaging and support for military rule across West Africa through coordinated online campaigns.
The study reviewed more than 30,000 digital posts and publications over a three-month period and found evidence of an organised effort aimed at influencing public opinion on governance, democracy and regional cooperation.
According to the report, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has become a major target of online disinformation. Thousands of posts portrayed the regional body as being controlled by foreign interests rather than functioning as an independent African institution.
Researchers said these narratives intensified during major political developments, especially when ECOWAS imposed sanctions or intervened diplomatically in member states. Online activity reportedly surged during such periods.
The report also noted that claims of “double standards” by ECOWAS have spread widely online. Critics frequently compared the organisation’s response to military coups with its reaction to constitutional amendments and political developments in other member states.
In addition, the study found growing online support for military-led governments in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. The three countries, now grouped under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), are increasingly being promoted on digital platforms as symbols of national sovereignty and as alternatives to democratic governance.
CDD said these messages have gained strong traction, particularly on short-form video platforms, indicating that they are resonating with large audiences across the region.
The report further pointed to the involvement of external actors in spreading such narratives, especially networks linked to Russia. According to the findings, content originating from Russian media outlets and associated accounts often showed signs of coordination and tended to peak around major diplomatic events.
Researchers added that these messages are often adapted and recirculated within local online communities, making them appear homegrown and more credible to local audiences.
CDD warned that the increasing acceptance of military rule and declining confidence in regional institutions could pose serious long-term threats to democracy in West Africa.
While acknowledging that the campaigns draw on genuine frustrations over insecurity, corruption and poor governance, the organisation stressed that the coordinated nature of the messaging represents an additional danger to democratic stability.
The report cautioned that unless governments and regional institutions respond with meaningful reforms and stronger public engagement, West Africa could face deeper institutional weakening and greater exposure to foreign influence.