- ECOWAS President Dr. Omar Touray called for unity in combating regional terrorism during ECOWAS’s 49th anniversary message in Abuja
- Touray emphasized that several member states face daily battles against terrorist groups, leading to widespread displacement and food insecurity
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, has called for unity in combating terrorism in the region. He appealed this during his message to the Community in Abuja on Tuesday, marking ECOWAS’s 49th anniversary.
“ECOWAS has achieved much, but we continue to face significant challenges. As we celebrate our 49th anniversary, insecurity remains a major threat to our region,” Touray stated.
He highlighted that several member states face daily battles against terrorist groups, leading to widespread displacement and food insecurity. “We must stay united to succeed in the fight against insecurity,” he emphasized. However, he warned that their unity is now threatened and stressed the importance of preserving it.
The anniversary theme, “Strengthening regional unity, peace and security,” reflects the bloc’s current challenges and reminds us of the need to work together to maintain regional unity and peace.
Touray acknowledged the community’s numerous achievements but noted the risk of losing three founding members: Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Now under military rule, these nations have expressed interest in leaving ECOWAS to form their alliance, accusing the bloc of straying from its founding objectives.
Additionally, many member states are grappling with terrorism. ECOWAS plans to assemble a regional force to combat this menace.
Touray’s message underscores the urgent need for solidarity and cooperation among ECOWAS members to overcome these challenges and secure a peaceful and united region.