ECOWAS Parliament Moves To Tackle Violent Extremism, Terrorism

The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Parliament) has taken stringent measures to tackle the disturbing trend of violent extremism and terrorism ravaging parts of West Africa in order to put an end to the devastating consequences.

The West African People’s Assembly took this step on Friday, by adopting a draft resolution during the closing ceremony of the two-week 2026 First Ordinary Session of the Parliament, which commenced in Abuja on May 4. This is even as the Parliamentarians mandated the Speaker, Memounatou Ibrahima, to forward the Resolution to the President of the ECOWAS Commission for prompt action.

The lawmakers bemoaned the fate of the region, which progress, peace and stability have been hindered by the acts perpetrated by mindless terrorists and called on Member states to strengthen cooperation in the light of the fight against the menace, especially in intelligence sharing.

The Resolution was adopted against the backdrop of “relevant provisions of the Protocol relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security”.

The Parliament also noted that it was mindful of the provisions of Articles 6 and 13 of the Revised Treaty relating to ECOWAS Institutions and the Community Parliament Establishments. It noted that it was mindful of the Declaration of Political Principles by Authority of Heads of State and government of ECOWAS adopted in July 1991 in Abuja.

Recall that the Sahel region has witnessed increased terrorists activities in recent times one of which was the siege on Mali, in multiple attacks that killed the country’s defense minister, Sadio Camara and his family members among other casualties on April 25, 2026, which the ECOWAS Commission described as “barbaric and unacceptable.” The attacks took place in Bamako, Kidal, Kati, Gao Mopti and Sevare.

Nigeria, West Africa’s most populous country, is also ravaged by the activities of terrorists especially in the northern part of the country, where scores of security officials and civilians have been killed by terrorists including senior army officers.

Therefore the ECOWAS Parliament Resolution may have come at the right time to curb this scourge as the lawmakers acknowledged the destabilizing impact of terrorism on democracy, economic development and regional integration.

Article 1 of the Resolution also condemned the heinous terrorist attacks in Mali and in Article two the West African lawmakers expressed sincere condolences and sympathy to the Government and People and families of the victims over the attacks.

The Parliament noted that the Joint Committee Report on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)/ Legal Affairs and Human Rights / Social Affairs, Gender, Women Empowerment, People Living with Disabilities, Trade, Customs and Free Movement.