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ECOWAS Initiates Standby Force to Combat Terrorism, Reveals Tinubu

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 22nd, 2024.

ECOWAS Initiates Standby Force to Combat Terrorism, Reveals Tinubu

ABUJA –On Sunday in Accra, Ghana, President Bola Tinubu addressed African leaders regarding the current status of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), emphasizing both its recent progress and ongoing challenges.

During his presentation at the sixth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union, President Tinubu, who currently chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, announced the activation of a standby force to combat terrorism. He also mentioned ongoing efforts to secure funding for this initiative.

President Tinubu highlighted ECOWAS’s support for member states in improving electoral and governance processes. He noted the deployment of Election Observation Missions to Senegal and Togo, where elections were deemed peaceful, transparent, and fair. Additionally, he mentioned the facilitation of a National Unity agreement in Sierra Leone and assured continued collaboration with stakeholders to implement its provisions.

The president revealed that discussions are underway to revise the ECOWAS 2001 Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

In terms of economic integration, President Tinubu reported that ECOWAS has taken steps to strengthen the free trade area, customs union, and common market. Six member states have ratified the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, and thirteen have ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. The ECOWAS interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) is now operational in twelve member states.

On the humanitarian front, President Tinubu announced a $9 million allocation by ECOWAS to support refugees, internally displaced persons, and asylum seekers. He also mentioned that frontline member states in the fight against terrorism have received $4 million under the ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Humanitarian Response initiative.