The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, has issued an urgent appeal for international support to combat the escalating terrorism crisis in West Africa and the Sahel, which he labeled an “existential threat” to the region.
Briefing the UN Security Council at the invitation of Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, Touray presented alarming data showing approximately 450 terrorist attacks in 2025 alone, causing over 1,900 deaths. While the central Sahel remains the epicenter, he stressed that no West African country is immune.
A key concern highlighted is a shift in terrorist tactics towards “economic warfare,” including the deliberate disruption of fuel supplies and trade routes to inflict widespread hardship and destabilize states.
In response, ECOWAS is accelerating the deployment of its Standby Force, starting with a 1,650-strong brigade. However, Touray emphasized that military action is only one part of a broader strategy that must include governance reforms and community engagement.
A significant obstacle identified is a deep-seated “trust deficit” among regional governments, particularly between ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which has hampered intelligence-sharing and joint operations. Despite political tensions, dialogue continues, and key economic arrangements remain in place.
Touray also detailed how terrorists finance their activities through illegal mining, kidnapping, and digital means, and called for predictable funding under UN resolutions. He concluded by urging global partners to stand with the region, stating, “We cannot—and should not—fight alone.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres echoed the need for coherent international action.
