ECOWAS announces $6.7 Million financial support for Sahel States in Anti-Terrorism efforts
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has declared its intention to provide financial support totaling $6.7 million to the three countries forming the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in the fight against terrorism. This information was reported by the Nigerien News Agency (ANP), citing Omar Alieu Touray, the commission president of the institution.
According to the report on the implementation of ECOWAS programs and projects, each AES member country—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—will receive $1.9 million.
Additionally, Burkina Faso will benefit from an extra million dollars due to the high number of internally displaced persons, Mr. Touray specified.
This announcement comes amid political tensions between the three states, led by a military junta, and ECOWAS, which has imposed sanctions and demanded a swift return to constitutional order.
Furthermore, Burkina Faso and Niger recently announced their withdrawal from the G5 Sahel and its joint force, following Mali’s formal departure in May 2022.
Some members of the organization created in 2014 have expressed concerns regarding the slow pace of operations, lack of funding, and unfulfilled promises from Western donors.
It’s worth noting that the Burkina Faso-Mali-Niger border area, known as the Liptako Gourma, has faced increasing insecurity due to the proliferation of armed groups and the rise of violent extremism in recent years.
According to ECOWAS data, the region recorded 1,814 incidents of terrorist attacks in the first half of 2023, resulting in the deaths of 4,593 people.
By the end of April 2023, the number of internally displaced persons exceeded 6 million.
To effectively combat this threat, ECOWAS entered into a protocol agreement with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) last September.
This protocol aims to prevent and combat terrorism and violent extremism over the next five years, supporting the implementation of ECOWAS’ 2020-2024 action plan to eradicate terrorism.
Maiga DAO
