Published: November 5, 2025
Monrovia — Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe is warning that the resurgence of military coups in West Africa threatens to reverse democratic gains and deepen human suffering across the region.
Snowe, who heads Liberia’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, said in a telephone interview that military rule brings “pain, division, and hardship” despite often being justified as a means of protecting citizens.
“Military takeovers should never be encouraged by any government or supported by any citizen,” he said. “They only create suffering and instability for the very people they claim to defend.”
His comments come as several West African nations continue to struggle with political upheaval, sanctions, and shortages of essential goods following recent coups.
Mali as a Warning
Snowe pointed to Mali as a stark example of the human cost of military rule, referencing a U.S. Embassy travel advisory warning Americans to avoid the country due to insecurity and resource scarcity.
“There’s barely fuel in the country,” he said. “Over six thousand schools have shut down, and ordinary people are going through unbearable hardship. This is not progress — it is tragedy.”
He argued that when democratic systems collapse, citizens—not leaders—bear the brunt of instability.
Push for Inclusion in Elections
Snowe recently joined an ECOWAS–African Union election observation mission that recommended stronger political participation and improved accessibility for persons with disabilities in voting processes.
He said exclusion fuels frustration and opens doors to chaos.
“When people are denied political participation, when their voices are ignored, it becomes a recipe for crisis,” he warned. “True democracy thrives only when everyone has a fair chance to take part.”
Snowe urged ECOWAS member states to resist constitutional manipulation, uphold peaceful transitions of power, and strengthen governance systems.
“Our region has suffered too long from instability,” he said. “If we must move forward, we have to build systems that protect democracy, not destroy it.”
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