The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced plans to establish a joint counter-terrorism force as part of its intensified efforts to address the growing threat of violent extremism and insecurity across the West African sub-region.
The announcement was made on Sunday by the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, and President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, during his address at the 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, held at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja.
President Bio expressed deep concern over the increasing activities of terrorist groups operating in multiple West African countries. He highlighted that these groups are exploiting the region’s porous borders to launch cross-border attacks, destabilizing member states and threatening regional peace.
In response to this growing menace, President Bio revealed that the establishment of a joint counter-terrorism force would enhance regional security cooperation. He emphasized that the initiative aims to strengthen collective defense mechanisms and improve coordinated military actions among ECOWAS member states in the fight against terrorism.
Bio called for increased border cooperation, intelligence sharing, and sustained political commitment to safeguard lives, enhance stability, and restore peace across the region. He underscored the need for a unified approach to combat the common security challenges that threaten the future of West Africa.
ECOWAS Business Council Appointed to Strengthen Economic Integration
In addition to the security initiative, President Bio also announced the appointment of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the President of the Dangote Group, as the inaugural Chairman of the ECOWAS Business Council.
The formation of the Business Council is part of ECOWAS’s broader agenda to foster greater private-sector involvement in the region’s economic integration. The Council is expected to play a pivotal role in driving cross-border investments, promoting industrialization, and boosting economic resilience across West Africa.
Bio noted that the creation of the Business Council would provide a platform for structured engagement between the public and private sectors, with a focus on enhancing trade and supporting ECOWAS’s development goals.
The appointment of Dangote, a leading business figure, is seen as a strategic move to deepen economic collaboration among ECOWAS member states and to mobilize business leaders towards achieving the regional bloc’s long-term economic objectives.
