Urgent Call for Action: Over 7,000 Lives Lost to Terrorism in West Africa in Five Months

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has highlighted the urgent need for collective action against terrorism and violent extremism in West Africa. He emphasized the staggering human cost of insecurity, noting that between January and May 2024, over 7,000 people have died in more than 800 terrorist incidents across the region, with Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali being particularly hard hit. Tuggar called for enhanced regional cooperation, effective intelligence sharing, and robust funding for the ECOWAS counter-terrorism force. He also stressed the importance of addressing underlying issues such as climate change, migration, organized crime, and economic inequality to build a stable and prosperous region.The minister's call for joint action against terrorism underscores the severity of the situation and the imperative of addressing the root causes of insecurity in the sub-region. The high number of deaths and incidents of terrorism in a short period highlights the urgent need for coordinated and decisive action to combat this menace. Tuggar's emphasis on addressing underlying issues reflects a comprehensive approach to building a stable and prosperous region.The international community continues to monitor developments in West Africa, particularly in relation to efforts to combat terrorism and address the root causes of insecurity.