ECOWAS Raises Alarm Over Expanding Terror Threat, Moves to Deploy 1,650-Member Standby Force
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has warned that terrorism is rapidly spreading across the entire West African region, no longer confined to the Sahel or the Lake Chad Basin.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Alieu Omar Touray, issued the warning while addressing the United Nations Security Council in New York during a session on improving regional cooperation against terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel.
According to Dr. Touray, early-warning assessments recorded about 450 terror incidents and more than 1,900 deaths across the region in 2025. He added that extremist groups are now targeting economic activities by blocking fuel supplies and disrupting trade routes.
To counter the growing threat, he announced that ECOWAS is fast-tracking the deployment of its standby force, beginning with 1,650 personnel and expanding to 5,000 with support from member states and international partners.
Dr. Touray also highlighted that mistrust and disjointed security efforts continue to weaken the regional response. He urged the Security Council to support efforts aimed at restoring cooperation, ensuring sustainable funding, and strengthening coordinated counter-terrorism operations.
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