Abuja, Nigeria – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has sounded a clarion call on the pressing issue of transnational terrorism, urging united action to confront the escalating security challenges facing member countries.
Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, sounded the alarm during a press conference held in Abuja on Friday. He highlighted the alarming expansion of terrorist activities beyond traditional hotspots like Mali and Nigeria’s Lake Chad Basin, now menacing coastal nations such as Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo.
Presenting concerning statistics, Musah disclosed that in 2023 alone, over 3,500 incidents of terror attacks ravaged the ECOWAS region, resulting in nearly 9,000 fatalities and displacing thousands more while devastating livelihoods. The Sahelian countries of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger bore the brunt, with close to 7,000 casualties reported.
The commissioner underscored the dire humanitarian crises stemming from these attacks, with millions facing food insecurity, internal displacement, and disrupted education. Burkina Faso emerged as a focal point for food insecurity and internal displacement, exacerbating the region’s humanitarian challenges.
While acknowledging ongoing regional and international efforts to combat terrorism, including initiatives like the Multinational Joint Task Force of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the Nouakchott Process, Musah stressed the imperative for enhanced coordination and integration of existing mechanisms within the ECOWAS framework.
In response to the mounting threats, ECOWAS has proposed the deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) to counter terrorism. Modalities for funding and operationalization are set to be deliberated by finance and defense ministers in the coming weeks. The ESF will collaborate closely with local forces and existing anti-terrorist mechanisms to tackle security challenges across the region.
Furthermore, ECOWAS has embarked on diplomatic engagements with member states like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which had threatened to withdraw from the bloc. While lifting financial and economic sanctions, the bloc is actively pursuing dialogue and reconciliation to ensure the continued stability and cohesion of the regional body.
Musah reiterated ECOWAS’s commitment to addressing member states’ concerns and fostering unity in the face of shared security threats. However, he emphasized that individual countries must uphold their commitments and contribute effectively to collective efforts aimed at ensuring peace and stability in West Africa.
