The leader of the Economic Community of West African States Commission, Omar Touray, issued a serious warning during a briefing to the United Nations Security Council at its 10,047th meeting regarding counterterrorism efforts in the region. He warned that the escalating threat of terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel now poses a risk to the very existence of the area. Touray’s presentation, as stated by the ECOWAS Commission, highlighted the rapidly worsening security situation and the measures being implemented to address it. 

Touray informed the council that terrorists have begun to engage in what he termed “economic warfare” by increasingly disrupting fuel supplies and trade routes between member states. He emphasized that this activity represents a fundamental danger to both Sahelian and coastal West African nations. Additionally, he acknowledged attempts to address the socio-economic factors that contribute to violent extremism.

The ECOWAS statement elaborated on several ongoing initiatives aimed at restoring order, including efforts to rebuild trust and foster political dialogue with former member states Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which have recently left the organization. The statement included remarks from Touray regarding ECOWAS’ kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, one of which is the expedited operationalization of the ECOWAS Standby Force. It also reaffirmed ECOWAS’ determination to collaborate closely with the UN, AU, and all other partners to ensure peace, stability, and resilience throughout West Africa and the Sahel.

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, also spoke to the Council, expressing concern about the worsening security and humanitarian situation in the Sahel. Guterres emphasized the urgent need for coordinated actions at both the regional and international levels, stating that there is an immediate requirement to prevent the spread of terrorism and violent extremism. Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, presiding over the meeting as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, characterized terrorism as a global challenge that necessitates renewed collaboration.

In the past decade, extremist violence in West Africa has surged, as jihadist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have expanded their influence from northern Mali into Burkina Faso and Niger, exploiting fragile security frameworks and porous borders. 

By the early 2020s, these groups had transformed Burkina Faso into one of the most lethal hotspots for terrorism globally and were increasingly pushing towards coastal nations like Benin, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire. 

Regional security initiatives have been further challenged by a series of military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea, which have hampered coordination within ECOWAS. The withdrawal of significant international missions, including Operation Barkhane and the UN’s MINUSMA, has diminished external support just as extremist networks have broadened their influence. These circumstances have led ECOWAS to reassess its security strategy and shift towards deploying a regional standby force.

In light of the rising violence, ECOWAS is hastening its plans to activate its standby counterterrorism force. The mission will begin with 1,650 personnel and is set to grow to 5,000 troops as more resources become available.