Omar Touray, president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, says the regional bloc is accelerating the deployment of its standby force to counter rising t+rrorism across West Africa.
Speaking before the United Nations (UN) Security Council on Monday, Touray warned that terrorism has now spread beyond the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, posing a direct threat to the entire region. “The thr+at is now regional in scope, and our response must match that scale,” he said.
He explained that extremist groups are increasingly engaging in “economic warfare” by targeting fuel supply lines and blocking major trade routes. “These groups are deliberately restricting fuel and crippling trade across the subregion,” he said. “Their aim is to destabilise economies, weaken states, and exacerbate humanitarian crises.”
Touray revealed that ECOWAS plans to begin deploying its standby force with 1,650 personnel, with a gradual expansion to 5,000 troops supported by regional and international partners.
He also cautioned that while several partners have taken steps to combat terrorism, the growing number of initiatives has resulted in “fragmentation” that hampers effective cooperation.
He stressed the need for unity and coordination, saying, “No amount of money, no amount of equipment will help us overcome t+rtor if we don’t collaborate and build synergy. Our current differences should not be exploited; they should be bridged.”
Touray called on the UN Security Council and the international community to assist ECOWAS in securing sustainable financing and strengthening regional security efforts.
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