ECOWAS Raises Warning as Terrorism Threat Spreads Across West Africa.

By Raymond Enoch

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has issued a stark warning that terrorism is no longer confined to traditional hotspots in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin but now threatens every part of West Africa.H.E. Dr Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, sounded the alarm on 18 November 2025 in New York, United States, during a high-level briefing to the United Nations Security Council on strengthening regional cooperation against terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel.Citing early-warning data, Dr Touray revealed that the region has witnessed about 450 terrorist attacks and more than 1,900 deaths in 2025 alone, underscoring the growing scale and brutality of extremist violence.He warned that terrorist and extremist groups are not only attacking civilians and state institutions but are also waging what he described as “economic warfare”—blocking fuel supplies, sabotaging critical infrastructure and crippling trade routes vital to the survival of millions of people across the subregion.In response to the escalating threat, Dr Touray announced that ECOWAS is fast-tracking the deployment of its standby force, beginning with 1,650 personnel and planning to scale up to 5,000 troops with backing from regional and international partners. The force is expected to support frontline states, bolster overstretched national security structures and plug gaps along porous borders exploited by armed groups.However, he cautioned that military measures alone will not be enough. Dr Touray pointed to fragmented efforts, mistrust and political tensions as major obstacles undermining effective regional coordination. He urged members of the Security Council to support efforts to rebuild confidence among states, secure predictable and sustainable financing, and reinforce coordinated regional action against terrorism and violent extremism.The ECOWAS Commission President stressed that without unity of purpose and consistent international backing, terrorism could further destabilise West Africa, roll back democratic gains and deepen humanitarian crises across the region.