ECOWAS reports its “regional counter-terrorism force” plans are advancing amid a resurgence of insurgent attacks in West Africa.
Recent attacks in Benin and Nigeria highlight the strain exacerbated by Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso’s ECOWAS withdrawal.
Insurgent groups exploit porous borders, hindering intelligence and military collaboration.
ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray stated countries are ready to contribute troops.
Finance and defense ministers will meet by mid-June to determine funding for the force.
Nigeria’s defense minister affirmed the force will ensure citizen safety.
Over 100 Nigerians died in April due to insurgent attacks, with continued assaults this month.
Al-Qaeda-linked insurgents also intensified Benin attacks, killing 54 soldiers last month.
Benin attributes attacks to violence spilling from Niger and Burkina Faso, battling their own insurgencies.
Touray worries that strained ECOWAS relations with the AES bloc hinder regional security collaboration.
Niger’s withdrawal from a joint task force disrupted cross-border efforts.
Touray stresses the need for security collaboration despite disunity. The Sahel was the global epicenter for extremist violence in 2024.
