ECOWAS Calls for Collective Action to Curb Trans-border Security Issues
Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has said West Africa is confronting increasingly complex security threats that are spilling across national borders and require
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called for collective action to tackle growing trans-border security threats in West Africa. During the Pre-West Africa Peace and Security Dialogue (WAPSeD) 2027 Strategy and Review Meeting in Abuja, ECOWAS highlighted issues such as violent extremism, terrorism, political tensions, organized crime, and humanitarian pressures as interconnected challenges.
Dr. Babatunde Afolabi, Director of Political Affairs at the ECOWAS Commission, emphasized that sustainable peace cannot be achieved by a single entity or government. He proposed focusing on three key areas: people, prevention, and partnership. ECOWAS sees peace and security as more than just crisis response; it also entails prevention efforts.
The ECOWAS Commission acknowledged the need to transition from discussion to action, stressing that mere analysis must lead to actionable recommendations. Board Chair of Building Blocks for Peace Foundation and an international relations professor, Charles Ukeje, urged stakeholders to engage women, youth, minorities, and marginalized groups meaningfully, arguing that true participation requires the affected communities to have a voice in decision-making processes.
Rafiu Lawal, Executive Director of Building Blocks for Peace Foundation, warned that the security situation in West Africa is rapidly evolving, with new threats including disinformation, information manipulation, drug trafficking, and illicit economies. These changes in the security landscape necessitate updated methods for prevention and response.
Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, echoed concerns over economic downturns, poverty, poor governance, terrorism, and transnational crime, urging dialogue to be followed by concrete actions. Lastly, Dr. John Tor Tsuwa, Director-General of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice, criticized the weakening of indigenous security structures, asserting that traditional rulers often lack formal legal functions and that areas described as ungoverned require more defined governance frameworks.
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