West Africa: Seven states meet in Accra to discuss security

To counteract the propagation of jihadist violence from the Sahel to the Gulf of Guinea coast, seven West African states met in Accra on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 November 2022 to discuss and expand their security and intelligence cooperation. This forum mainly involves Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The work began on Thursday.

Collaboration is most needed than ever. For the threat of violent extremism is « more widespread than previously thought and transcends borders, » said Ghana’s Minister of National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah, on Thursday, noting that « the threat landscape is constantly changing.

Indeed, the forum is intended to prepare for a ministerial meeting of the Accra Initiative countries to be held next week, at a date which has not yet been announced.

Jihadist violence in the Sahel began in 2012 in Mali, killing thousands and displacing millions. But it has spread to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger and now threatens the Gulf of Guinea states. Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo face the threat of Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda fighters based in Niger and Burkina Faso. These groups are now multiplying their attacks on their territory. And there is growing concern about possible local recruitment within these countries.

Regional leaders will discuss security proposals at a summit on Tuesday 22 November, according to the Accra Initiative. The Accra talks are also expected to involve government representatives from the EU, Britain and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

UK Defence Secretary James Heappey said on Monday he would join the Accra meeting as the UK, France and other countries examine ways to « rebalance » their deployment in the Sahel and coastal countries.

Miss OLY