Abuja, Nigeria — West African leaders on Sunday renewed calls for a coordinated, multilateral approach to tackling terrorism and insecurity in the sub-region, warning that instability in one country poses a threat to all.
Speaking at the opening of the 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja, Chairman of the Authority and Sierra Leone President, Julius Maada Bio, urged member states to strengthen collective security efforts through integrated intelligence sharing, coordinated border operations and the operationalisation of an ECOWAS standby counter-terrorism force.
Bio described the session as a defining moment for the region, noting that ECOWAS, now 50 years old, must confront escalating security challenges that threaten the future of more than 400 million people in West Africa.
“West Africa faces some of the most complex and evolving threats in its history,” he said, citing terrorism, violent extremism, organised crime and communal conflicts, particularly in the Sahel. “Instability in one nation is instability for all. No border can insulate us from violence.”
He commended regional ministers of finance and defence for developing modalities to ensure sustainable financing and raise a 1,650-personnel counter-terrorism brigade by the end of 2026, stressing that security measures must be matched with governance reforms, education, job creation and community resilience to effectively dismantle extremism.
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The ECOWAS chairman also expressed concern over political instability in Guinea-Bissau and the attempted coup in Benin Republic, reaffirming the bloc’s zero tolerance for unconstitutional changes of government.
“ECOWAS does not, and will not, compromise on democratic governance,” Bio said, adding that the organisation remains committed to supporting credible and time-bound transitions back to constitutional rule where necessary.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, echoed the call for deeper regional cooperation, saying no single country can address terrorism, violent extremism, transnational crime and other cross-border threats alone.
“Our security, prosperity and resilience are indivisible,” Tinubu said. “We must sit at the same table, speak with one voice and act with shared resolve.”
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, said recent global and regional developments — including rising insecurity in the Sahel and shifting geopolitical dynamics — pose significant challenges to achieving the bloc’s Vision 2050 objectives. He noted that ECOWAS is reinvigorating its economic integration agenda through the operationalisation of the ECOWAS Business Council to mobilise regional capital and strengthen member states’ comparative advantages.
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On economic integration, leaders reaffirmed commitments to the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the planned single currency, while announcing measures to ease regional travel. From January 1, 2026, member states will abolish air transport taxes and reduce passenger and security charges by 25 per cent to lower the cost of air travel across West Africa.
The meeting underscored ECOWAS’ resolve to strengthen security cooperation, defend democratic governance and deepen economic integration as the region navigates growing security and political challenges.
