ECOWAS Witnesses Over 800 Terrorist Attacks in 2024, Says Tuggar.
By Caroline Ameh
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has expressed deep concern over the devastating effects of terrorism on the peace and security of the ECOWAS region. Speaking at the 52nd Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council (MSC) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the Ministerial Level in Abuja on Wednesday, Tuggar shared alarming statistics from the ECOWAS Early Warning and Response Network (ECOWARN).
“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,” Tuggar revealed. He noted that 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 added.
Tuggar, who serves as the Chairman of the MSC, stressed the necessity of unity in tackling terrorism, noting that it does not recognize borders. “From the Sahel to the coastal States, no country is immune to its devastating impact,” he said. “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.” He called for unwavering commitment and resolve to safeguard the lives and futures of ECOWAS citizens.
Beyond terrorism, Tuggar highlighted other significant challenges facing the regional bloc, including climate change, migration, organized criminal activity, global terms of trade, and access to financing.
Dr. Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, also addressed the session, lamenting the ongoing threats facing the sub-region. Speaking on the 49th anniversary of ECOWAS, Touray outlined additional issues such as illegal fishing, drug trafficking, and the dumping of toxic waste in the Gulf of Guinea, which have negatively impacted livelihoods. “Governance deficits and marginalisation have strained social contracts, engendering bitter political rivalries, resource competition, organized crime, and violence,” Touray said.
He also highlighted the complicating factors of multipolar geostrategic and geopolitical competition, the emergence of destructive technologies, and misinformation practices that undermine social cohesion. “The region is also affected by strategies of misinformation and disinformation practices that foster mistrust among stakeholders and undermine social cohesion,” he noted.
Leonardo Simao, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), underscored the importance of the meeting as a platform for deepening the partnership between the UN and ECOWAS. “We will continue to engage relevant stakeholders in and beyond the sub-region as part of the contribution to find a lasting solution to the stand-off between ECOWAS and three member states,” Simao said.
