ECOWAS Heads resolve to fight terrorism

ECOWASThe Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS has reaffirmed its determination to pursue the fight against terrorism, stressing the need for coordinated international action for peace, security and stability in the sub-region.

At the end of its 49th Ordinary Summit held in Dakar, Senegal last week, (June 4 2016), the leaders in a communiqué, expressed grave concern at the terrorism scourge which is becoming a persistent threat in the region.

The summit, attended by President John Mahama, firmly condemned the terrorist attacks in Bamako and Timbuktu (Mali), in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) and Grand Bassam (Cote d’Ivoire) which occurred respectively in November 2015, May 2016 and January and March 2016, in addition to the attacks by Boko Haram in Niger on June 3, 2016 and Nigeria.

The Authority extended its solidarity with the affected countries, consoling the Governments and people of Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.

The Heads of State praised the different preventive measures adopted by Member States against the terrorist attacks, as well as regional and continental initiatives to address terrorism with the support of partners.

They lauded the conduct of the Regional Security Summit in Abuja, Nigeria from May 12 to 14, 2016, which brought together Member States of the Lake Chad Basin Commission in order to further reinforce the operations of the Joint Multinational Force against Boko Haram.

The Authority urged all States to continue to strengthen their coordination and information sharing efforts in the execution of their operations, calling on all Member States to join in these efforts.

The Summit instructed the ECOWAS Commission to convene an emergency meeting of the Heads of Intelligence Units of member countries in order to define the procedure for enhancing information sharing and to support Member States in the sensitisation and education of citizens to check radicalisation and violent extremism at the Community, national and regional levels.

Source: GNA

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