Centre For Democracy And Development Launches Five Year Strategic Roadmap To Combat West African Authoritarianism And Poverty

The Centre for Democracy and Development unveils a five-year strategy to tackle military coups, poverty, and democratic backsliding in West Africa.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 1, 2026, 9:23 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Peoples Gazette

Addressing the Resurgence of Regional Authoritarianism

The Centre for Democracy and Development has unveiled a new five-year strategic plan designed to reverse the troubling trend of democratic decline and worsening poverty in West Africa. Speaking at the launch in Abuja, CDD-West Africa Director Dauda Garuba noted that despite thirty years of progress, the region is currently facing a volatile mix of advancements and severe setbacks. While nations like Ghana and Senegal have maintained relative stability, others are struggling against a wave of military-led populism and constitutional manipulations by civilian leaders. The strategy aims to re-establish public trust in governance systems that have been significantly weakened by corruption.

The Humanitarian Cost of Governance Failure

According to Garuba, the crisis in West Africa extends beyond political structures into a worsening humanitarian situation. The rise of military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger has complicated the regional security landscape, leading to increased displacement and economic hardship. The CDD boss emphasized that democracy and development are inextricably linked, suggesting that a breakdown in the social contract often leads to the return of authoritarian rule. The new roadmap focuses on the need for collaborative action between civil society and international partners to address the root causes of this instability.

Planning Beyond Market Forces for Poverty Reduction

In a keynote address during the unveiling, former CDD director Jubrin Ibrahim argued that economic development in the region has failed to be people-centered. Ibrahim suggested that institutions like the IMF and the World Bank have historically discouraged effective economic planning in Nigeria and its neighbors. Drawing parallels to the success of Brazil, China, and India, he emphasized that significant poverty reduction requires deliberate and centralized planning rather than a sole reliance on market forces. He noted that the current crisis is often exacerbated by leaders who identify as democrats while simultaneously undermining democratic institutions.