The President of the Economic Community of West African States Commission, Omar Touray, has issued a strong warning that the intensifying spread of terrorism throughout West Africa and the broader Sahel has now reached a stage that threatens the long-term survival and cohesion of the region. Touray delivered this message while addressing the United Nations Security Council during its 10,047th meeting, which focused on reviewing regional counterterrorism strategies and the growing challenges posed by violent extremist groups. Okay News reports.
In a statement released by the Economic Community of West African States Commission, the briefing was described as an extensive review of the deteriorating security climate and the multi-level efforts being advanced to stop its progression.
During his address, Touray told representatives of the United Nations Security Council that extremist groups were now executing what he termed “economic warfare,” explaining that the disruption of fuel supplies, targeted attacks on road networks, and interference with regional trade corridors had become a deliberate strategy adopted by terrorist organisations across the Economic Community of West African States.
According to him, these activities have created an existential threat not only to countries in the Sahel zone such as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso but also to coastal West African states including Ghana, Benin, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire, whose economic stability is increasingly at risk.
The Economic Community of West African States Commission noted that Touray outlined a series of actions being implemented to rebuild trust and create renewed cooperation with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, the three former member states that recently withdrew from the regional bloc following military coups. These initiatives include diplomatic engagement, security consultations, and humanitarian interventions aimed at restoring stability.
The statement added, “Touray outlined Economic Community of West African States’ kinetic and non-kinetic measures, including the accelerated operationalisation of the Economic Community of West African States Standby Force.”
It also stated that, “President Touray reaffirmed Economic Community of West African States’ commitment to working closely with the United Nations, the African Union and all partners to safeguard peace, stability, and resilience across West Africa and the Sahel.”
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also addressed the Council, expressing concern over worsening humanitarian conditions across the Sahel region. He emphasised the urgency of coordinated international action, stressing that the global community must urgently curb the rise of violent extremism threatening millions of people.
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, who chaired the United Nations Security Council session in his capacity as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States Authority of Heads of State and Government, also described terrorism as a global challenge requiring renewed and sustained unity among nations.
Over the last decade, extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State expanded from northern Mali into Burkina Faso and Niger. By the early 2020s, Burkina Faso had become one of the world’s deadliest hotspots for terrorism, with extremist groups increasingly expanding their operations towards coastal countries such as Benin, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Regional cooperation has been complicated by consecutive military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea. The withdrawal of major international missions, especially the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali and France’s Operation Barkhane, weakened external support at a time when terrorist groups were significantly strengthening their networks.
In response to these developments, the Economic Community of West African States has intensified its internal security review and is moving forward with the deployment of a counterterrorism standby force. The initial phase of the mission will begin with 1,650 personnel, with a planned expansion to a 5,000-strong force once additional logistical support and political commitments are secured.
