ECOWAS @49: Touray calls for united front against terrorism

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, has called for a united front in the fight against terrorism in the region.

He made the call in his message to the Community in Abuja on Tuesday to mark the bloc’s 49th anniversary.

“ECOWAS may have realised many achievements, but the Community continues to face a number of challenges. As we celebrate our 49th anniversary, insecurity continues to threaten our region.

“Some of our member states are battling terrorist groups on a daily basis and a large number of our population face displacement and food insecurity.

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“It is clear that we must stay united if we want to be successful in the fight against insecurity.

“But it is our unity which now stands threatened. We must do everything to preserve our unity,” he said.

Touray said the theme of the anniversary: “Strengthening regional unity, peace and security” was chosen to reflect the bloc’s current challenges, adding that it would remind members of the need to work to preserve regional unity and peace.

Though the community had recorded numerous landmark achievements, it now faces the threat of losing three of its founding members – Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

The trio, now under military rule, have indicated their interest in leaving the bloc to form their own alliance after accusing it of derailing from the objectives of its founding fathers.

Also, many member states of the regional bloc are battling terrorism.

ECOWAS is currently working on a plan to assemble a regional force to combat the menace.