The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is calling for urgent action to support Burkina Faso in its efforts to defeat the terrorist threat on its territory.
The security situation in Burkina Faso is deteriorating with each passing day.
Attacks by jihadist groups have become an almost daily affair, to the great displeasure of the civilian population, the main victims of the insurgency.
The situation has not left the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) indifferent.
During its 62nd Ordinary Session, held on Sunday in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, the Conference of Heads of State of the sub-regional organization “expresses its deep concern at the worsening regional security situation created by the resurgence and expansion of terrorist attacks and their humanitarian consequences.”
The bloc says it is “particularly concerned” about the security situation in Burkina Faso and its potential consequences on coastal countries”.
It therefore calls for urgent action to support Burkina Faso in its efforts to deal with the terrorist attacks in this insecure country.
The ocnference underscored the urgency of accelerating the implementation of the ECOWAS Priority Action Plan 2020-2024 to eradicate terrorism, in particular by improving resource mobilization and strengthening the region’s operational and logistical capacities to better conduct the fight against terrorism.
Regional leaders further reiterated their commitment to the effective implementation of the ECOWAS Priority Action Plan 2020-2024 to eradicate terrorism in the region, as adopted at their 56th ordinary session held on 21 December 2019 in Abuja.
To this end, they pledge to urgently pay their contributions of one billion dollars to a regional fund for the fight against terrorism created for this purpose.
In view of the multiplication of initiatives aimed at combating armed groups, they also stressed the urgent need for better coordination and more structured harmonization of the various counter-terrorism initiatives in the region, under the aegis of the ECOWAS Commission, in order to create more synergies and pool available resources.
ARD/ac/fss/as/APA