July 03, (THEWILL) – Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, said terrorism has continued to threaten the collective well-being of the West African sub-region, noting that over 7,000 people have been killed between January and May 2024 in 800 terrorist attacks in the region.
Tuggar, who stated this during the opening ceremony of the 52nd ECOWAS Ministerial Meeting of the Mediation and Security Council, disclosed that Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger were the worst hit in the sub-region.
He explained that the figures were from the ECOWAS Early Warning and Response Network (ECOWARN), which painted a sobering picture of the sub-region.
Noting that the West African sub-region is faced with grave security and humanitarian challenges, Tuggar said the violent extremists operate within and across ECOWAS national borders, compromising not just peace and security but also the prospects for growth and development.
“Therefore, as we commence our deliberation today, let us be mindful of the critical threats we face and the collective actions required to overcome them.
“The statistics from the ECOWAS Early Warning and Response Network (ECOWARN) paint a sobering picture. Between January and May 2024, our region has witnessed over 7,000 deaths as a result of more than 800 terrorist incidents. Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali have been particularly devastated by this relentless violence. This stark reality highlights the staggering human cost of insecurity, and underscores the urgency for coordinated and decisive action to combat this menace,” he said.
Tuggar also said terrorism does not recognise borders, saying that from the Sahel to the coastal states, no country is immune to its devastating impact.
“It is, therefore, crucial for every country within ECOWAS, including those in the Sahelian belt, to understand that the fight against terrorism is not the burden of a few but a collective responsibility. Therefore, we must remain united, and demonstrate unwavering commitment and resolve to safeguard the lives and futures of our citizens.
“And as we join forces to find common solutions to the continuing challenge of violent extremism and foreign interference, we should also remain mindful of the broader challenge of cooperation to help tackle the underlying causes of instability in our region: climate change, migration, organised criminal activity, global terms of trade and access to financing,” he added.
Tuggar, however, said despite the challenges that confront the sub-region, ECOWAS has continued to sustain its peace support operations in some member states, including the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (SSMGB) and the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG), as well as the ongoing plans for the deployment of an ECOWAS Stabilisation Mission in Sierra Leone, given recent developments there.
He explained that ECOWAS has also been actively addressing humanitarian challenges in the region, through coordinated efforts and strategic interventions in member states, adding that through the interventions, food items and other relief materials have been provided to communities most affected by natural disasters and insecurity.
In his remarks, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, said as ECOWAS commemorates the 49th anniversary of its collective regional integration project, the sub-region is still confronted with multiple interlocking threats, including existential ones, posing significant challenges.
On his part, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNOWAS, Leonardo Simao, said the United Nations commends the continuous and sustained efforts by ECOWAS to address the challenges facing the sub-region since the last session held in Abuja in December.
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