Expert Calls For Solidarity To Combat Regional Threats

The executive director, Conflict Research Network West Africa, Dr Timipere Felix Allison, has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to mobilise countries in the region to collectively combat violent extremism and the deepening humanitarian pressures.

Allison, who spoke with newsmen in Ibadan at the end of an international conference held in Abuja in partnership with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), themed ‘ECOWAS at 50: Reimagining Regional Integration for a Resilient, Democratic and Secure West Africa’, noted that “50 years after the establishment of ECOWAS, West Africa stands at a crossroads.

“The region had experienced remarkable gains in trade, mobility, diplomacy and peacekeeping, yet, the region also faces democratic backsliding, a resurgence of coups, violent extremism, climate-induced displacement, deepening humanitarian pressures, and widening socio-economic inequality.

“These layered challenges demand new thinking, evidence-based policymaking, and a renewed commitment to regional solidarity.”

He said the conference participants agreed that, “there is a rapid decline of democratic governance in West Africa.

“This is shown in the rise in military takeovers and in the growing pattern of constitutional, judicial and civilian coups across several states; ECOWAS has focused on responding to military coups while paying insufficient attention to other forms of unconstitutional changes of government; the security situation in many West African states has deteriorated, resulting in high levels of death, displacement and disruption of livelihoods.

“The creation of the Alliance of Sahelian States has deepened political divisions within the region and poses a challenge to regional cooperation.

“Climate change and environmental degradation are intensifying pressures on communities, yet, ECOWAS has not developed a robust regional approach to these issues. Socio-economic conditions have worsened, with rising poverty and unemployment affecting large youth populations across the region.

“To solve these problems, the conference participants resolved on the need for ECOWAS to restructure with a view to strengthening itself to be able to address emerging regional threats and solving democratic governance challenges.”

Earlier at the conference, the executive Director of Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Dr Garba Dauda, recalled the role that ECOWAS played in conflict resolution, stabilisation and peace building across West Africa, stressing the success of the regional body in promoting free movement across national borders – an achievement that other regional organisations on the continent have yet to realise.