Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, has called on ECOWAS members to address the root causes of insecurity in the sub-region. Speaking at the 52nd session of the Mediation and Security Council in Abuja, Tuggar emphasized the severe security and humanitarian challenges facing the region, highlighting the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism.
Tuggar stressed the need for a united front, urging collective actions to secure peace and political stability across West Africa. He cited alarming statistics from the ECOWAS Early Warning and Response Network (ECOWARN), which reported over 7,000 deaths from more than 800 terrorist incidents between January and May 2024, with Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali being hardest hit.
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The minister underscored the necessity for all ECOWAS countries to view the fight against terrorism as a shared responsibility. He also highlighted the importance of addressing underlying causes of instability, such as climate change, migration, organized crime, and economic disparities, while continuing efforts to entrench democracy and good governance.
Tuggar praised ECOWAS' ongoing peace support operations and humanitarian efforts in member states, urging further unity and strategic cooperation. He called for robust funding and implementation of regional security initiatives and stressed the importance of intelligence sharing and community resilience to foster a secure and prosperous West Africa.
