Politics
ECOWAS Pushes for Unity Against Regional Threats
In a recent gathering, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, who also chairs the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), emphasized the need for regional cooperation to tackle the ongoing challenges facing members like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
During a meeting with ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff in Abuja, Tinubu reiterated that restoring these nations to the community is a top priority. He expressed the group’s commitment to fostering security and supporting constitutional governance in the region.
He stated, «It has been a challenging tenure for me since three members indicated their exit. We will work hard to persuade them to return, whichever way. No one man is smarter than the group of heads that is here. We will do everything to offer a hand of friendship to them and give them reasons to come back to us.»
President Tinubu praised the dedication of the defense chiefs toward maintaining stability and protection of democratic principles within West Africa. He highlighted that tackling terrorism and other regional threats is a collective responsibility.
General Christopher Musa, the Chairman of ECOWAS Chief of Defence Staff, informed attendees that the military chiefs recognized the need for a united approach in addressing issues like insurgency and unconstitutional government shifts.
Additionally, the meeting focused on enhancing the capabilities of ECOWAS military forces, with a decision made to deploy 1,200 troops to Sierra Leone, as various countries pledged support for this initiative.
Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, remarked on the dire state of security in West Africa, indicating that terrorism has increasingly spilled into coastal countries from the Sahel region.
He stressed the urgency of collaboration among member states to effectively activate the ECOWAS standby force in response to this escalating threat. Recent attacks in Niger and northern Mali have underscored the pressing need for a coordinated military response.
