ECOWAS Takes Fresh Action To Stop Terrorism, Cross-border Crimes

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has mobilized its Standby Force to address terrorism and other cross-border criminal activities within the subregion.

Naija News reports that this announcement was made by Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, during the 43rd ordinary meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence, held in Abuja on Tuesday.

The minister emphasized that the region’s economic growth hinges on maintaining stable peace, highlighting the necessity for ECOWAS members to unite against all forms of threats to the area.

On January 29, 2025, ECOWAS acknowledged the departure of three of its former members—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic—following the completion of a one-year notice period.

In a gesture of regional solidarity, ECOWAS urged its member states to continue recognizing the national passports of the three departing nations that display the ECOWAS logo until further notice.

The exit of these countries has created divisions within the region, leaving the future of the ECOWAS grouping uncertain.

The three junta-led nations formally communicated their intention to withdraw “immediately” in January 2024, citing the organization’s perceived over-reliance on France.

Paris has emerged as a common adversary for the three juntas, which are now seeking alliances with nations such as Russia, Turkey, and Iran.

However, ECOWAS mandated a one-year notice for the withdrawal to take effect, with the deadline set for January 29, 2025.

The three Sahelian nations have also collaborated to establish a new confederation known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

This comes a few days after ECOWAS reaffirmed its commitment to launching a single regional currency, the Eco, by 2027 as part of efforts to strengthen economic integration and financial stability across member states.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Manga, following the 11th ECOWAS Convergence Council meeting in Abuja.

The high-level meeting, which convened Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from ECOWAS member states, focused on strategies to fast-track the long-awaited introduction of the regional currency.