ECOWAS sees no difficulty in finding the money to combat terrorism and establish security in West Africa, Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s president and the chairman of ECOWAS, revealed after a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday with presidents of Benin, Guinea-Bissau and Niger.
"We have no problem raising funds and we have all the instrumentalities to do that. So concerning our design and engineering of our own finances, we believe we’re capable of raising necessary funds to combat terrorism and insecurity in the region," he is quoted as saying by the local media.
In addition, the leaders discussed politics and security-related issues in the region, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, president of the ECOWAS Commission, revealed.
"Regarding the political situation in the sub-region, the leaders have reviewed the transition in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea. Regarding the transition in those three countries, the leaders have taken the decision to re-engage the three countries at the highest level," Tinubu noted.
The president also disclosed that Benin's President Patrica Talon "will undertake a mission to these three countries on behalf of the heads of state."
As for the organization's measures to maintain security in the region, Touray mentioned "the operationalization of the ECOWAS Plan of Action with the region’s own troops and regions' own financing", adding that other partners are welcome to provide financial aid.
Recently, suspected jihadists killed 22 civilians in two attacks in the north and west of Burkina Faso, according to local security sources. The country has been battling with a jihadist insurgency that crossed the border from neighboring Mali in 2015.
This month, Mali's suspension imposed by the ECOWAS and the monetary union within it was lifted, according to the final communique of the extraordinary session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government.
Mali encountered economic and financial sanctions of the West African ECOWAS due to the postponement of elections, which were to restore civilian rule, until 2026. The delay was announced by Mali's military leaders, who seized power in May 2021.
In June this year, the country made a crucial step toward the establishment of a civilian government by holding a constitutional referendum. As Mali's electoral authority reported, 97% of the referendum votes were in favor of the draft constitution, which strengthens the president's role. Voter turnout was recorded at 39.4%.