POLICY PAPER| FES PSCC The Nexus Between Democracy, Security and Climate Change in West Africa: Advocating for Inclusive and Holistic Approaches Dr. NdEye Amy NDIAYE November 2023 Background Elections are a fundamental institution for any state, and holding regular elections is vital for the establishment of a democratic culture. The ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol of 2001, whose main focus is on the develop­ment of the rule of law, the consolidation of democracy and the adoption of common principles of good gover­nance within the ECOWAS space, categorically rejects any form of undemocratic access to the supreme office in any of its states. Nevertheless, it must be acknowl­edged that democratic governance in West African countries is in a sorry state, and the upheavals caused by the recent series of coups d’état have only served to aggravate the situation and jeopardize the gains achieved so far. Added to this are the violent conflicts raging in the region, which continue to intensify. Armed groups are active in the central Sahel as well as in the Lake Chad Basin. Violent attacks continue in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, particularly in the tri-border region of Liptako Gourma. In the north of certain coastal countries such as Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo, violence is increas­ingly frequent and deadly. In addition, climate data reveals that West Africa and the Sahel are experiencing regional temperature rises at faster rates than the global average, and that rainfall in these regions is increasingly unpredictable. The regions are also expected to experience unprecedented varia­tions in temperature and rainfall in the late 2030s and early 2040s. Climate change has an impact on the veg­etation cover, the availability of natural resources, agricul­tural yields, and biodiversity. These changes exacerbate human suffering, heighten political instability, complicate humanitarian responses, and threaten human security. Economic stress, competition for resources in fragile or conflict-affected areas, forced displacements and existing disparities between men and women are among the key factors of the poverty affecting the countries of West