The ECOWAS Commission has issued a serious warning to the world. President Omar Touray says terrorism in West Africa has reached a dangerous level. He believes it now threatens the survival of the entire region.
Touray delivered this message to the United Nations Security Council. He briefed the council during a recent meeting on counterterrorism.
Terrorists Waging “Economic Warfare”
Touray highlighted a disturbing change in tactics. Terrorist groups are no longer just attacking people. They are now fighting an “economic war.”
According to Touray, insurgents are blocking fuel supplies. They are also disrupting trade routes between countries. This strategy aims to destroy local economies. It poses a huge threat to both the Sahel and coastal West African states.
ECOWAS Plans a Standby Force
ECOWAS is taking action to stop this violence. Touray outlined the bloc’s plan to restore stability.
A key part of this plan is the ECOWAS Standby Force. The group is preparing to deploy a counterterrorism mission.
- Initial Strength: The mission will start with 1,650 troops.
- Future Goal: The force will expand to 5,000 troops as more support arrives.
Touray also mentioned non-military efforts. ECOWAS wants to rebuild trust with former member states like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. These nations recently left the bloc after military coups.
A Call for Global Help
Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, chaired the meeting. He called terrorism a global challenge. He urged the world to work together to solve it.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres agreed. He expressed deep concern over the situation in the Sahel. Guterres emphasized the urgent need for coordinated action.
A Growing Crisis
Extremist violence has grown worse over the last ten years. Jihadist groups have moved from northern Mali into Burkina Faso and Niger. They take advantage of weak borders.
Recently, international missions like Operation Barkhane have withdrawn. This has left a security gap. Now, ECOWAS is racing to fill that void before the violence spreads further toward coastal nations.
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