The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has urged its member states to unite in addressing the causes of insecurity in the region, following a surge in terrorist attacks that have claimed over 7,000 lives in just five months.
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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, made the call at the 52nd session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council in Abuja, noting that “between January and May 2024, our region has witnessed over 7,000 deaths as a result of more than 800 terrorist incidents.”
Tuggar emphasized that the fight against terrorism must be a shared responsibility, requiring unwavering commitment from all ECOWAS member states. “Terrorism does not recognise borders…it is therefore crucial for every country within ECOWAS to understand that the fight against terrorism is not the burden of a few but a collective responsibility.”
The call for unity comes after a series of military coups in the region, including incidents in Mali in 2020 and 2021, Burkina Faso in 2022, and Niger in the past year. Three of these nations had previously considered forming a counterforce, the Alliance of Sahel States, in response to ECOWAS, but sanctions were lifted in February 2024 following mediation by Nigeria’s former military head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon.
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“The continued standoff between the Alliance of Sahelian States and ECOWAS is preoccupying and undermines the integrity of the regional integration agenda,” noted President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray.
Tuggar urged members to remain united and committed to the principles of peace, democracy, rule of law, and good governance. “Let us also pledge to work tirelessly for the security and prosperity of our region, for the overall benefit of our people and the generations to come.”
