ECOWAS Commission President H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray briefed the UN Security Council during its 10047th meeting on regional counter-terrorism cooperation in West Africa and the Sahel. He warned of the existential threat posed by terrorism to both Sahelian and coastal States, noting that extremist groups are increasingly waging “economic warfare” by disrupting fuel supplies and trade routes.
Dr. Touray outlined ECOWAS’ kinetic and non-kinetic measures, including the accelerated operationalization of the ECOWAS Standby Force and initiatives aimed at rebuilding trust, advancing political dialogue with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, and addressing the socio-economic drivers of extremism.
The Council also received a briefing from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who highlighted the worsening security and humanitarian situation in the Sahel and stressed the need for coherent regional and international action. Chairing the meeting, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone underscored terrorism as a collective global challenge requiring renewed cooperation.
President Touray reaffirmed ECOWAS’ commitment to working closely with the UN, AU and all partners to safeguard peace, stability, and resilience across West Africa and the Sahel.
