The United Global Resolve for Peace (UGRFP) has issued an urgent request for the establishment of a regional anti-terrorism Task Force in response to the recent secession of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
UGRFP Chairman Shalom Olaseni said that a coordinated and well-thought-out response is imperative in light of the recent political upheavals and the ever-growing threat of terrorism in West Africa.
It is unmistakably evidence that counterterrorism measures must be taken immediately and consistently. The establishment of an ECOWAS Anti-terrorism Task Force is now required, not an option.
According to him, UGRFP has been leading the charge in promoting the creation of this task force since 2017, highlighting its significance in an area plagued by political unrest and terrorist activity.
He mentioned that the necessity for a prompt and firm response was stressed during a crucial meeting with Moustapha Cisse, the former Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, which gave impetus to the need for action.
“In West Africa, the plague of terrorism has been allowed to fester for far too long. The trend of coups is a clear indicator of the unease that permeates our countries.
Olaseni remarked, “We’re just reacting to crises instead of preventing them without a dedicated task force.”
He presented a plan for the task force to become an ongoing organization rather than the stopgap actions that usually follow uprisings and coups.
Its goals, he said, would be to eliminate terrorists’ safe havens, promote regional collaboration, and establish a more secure atmosphere that supports economic growth.
“The only way we can protect our citizens and ensure the prosperity of West African states in the future is by creating a strong and long-lasting ECOWAS Anti-terrorism Task Force,” Olaseni stated.
In light of the fact that terrorist networks are increasingly forming transnational coalitions, UGRFP stressed the significance of a cooperative counterterrorism strategy.
Olaseni emphasized that West African countries bear a shared duty for guaranteeing the security and welfare of their citizens.
