The United States has restated its commitment to intensify bilateral security cooperation with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to tackle the scourge of terrorism and violent extremism that have bedeviled the sub region.
US Africa Command (AFRICOM), West Africa coordination Element Lead, department of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Kenneth Ekman, stated this during a media roundtable in Abuja. He stressed that the purpose of his visit to Nigeria and the outcome of his engagements with government officials is to halt violent extremism and democratic governance decline in the sub region.
“With regards to how ECOWAS the US military and broader, the U.S. government, do share the concerns that they have expressed. That is, with regards to the decline in democratic governance that is playing out particularly in the Sahel, which ultimately comes down to ECOWAS.
“Where we can help ECOWAS, however they choose to proceed, is bilateral security cooperation with ECOWAS members, so that’s our approach,” he said.
The US Air Force General warned that unless the root causes of the terrorism and violent extremism are tackled, the scourge may continue to ravage the region.
He tasked the regional leaders to address the lingering issue of poor governance at all levels and build the economies of the member countries of ECOWAS.
“The military component of what we do here with our partners sits on a solid foundation of U.S. diplomacy, of U.S. mutually beneficial trade and investment, and on top of development humanitarian assistance, which continues throughout.
“And so, when you look at the AES, the so-called AES states in the Sahel, although they are currently being led by coup governments, there’s been no reduction in our humanitarian assistance going to the people in those countries.
“That’s just reflective of our continued commitment to work on the underlying causes,” he said.
Gen. Ekman said that following the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Niger Republic, his country was working to address the challenges by redistributing them among other ECOWAS member states.
“And then for us, the reason I’m here talking to you today and the reason that we’re redistributing U.S. forces in West Africa is because we remain committed to West African security.
“Countries where we’re having conversations, countries where we have started putting some forces, include Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, we have some U.S. forces there now.
“I’m going to Accra (Ghana)next. I’m keenly interested in what their authorities have to say. It’s got to be right for the partner.
“And then I was just in N’Djamena (Chad) a couple of weeks ago and we talked about the next phase for the posture of U.S. forces.
“In all cases, we’re starting with just small elements, small special operations teams that provide advice and assistance and training to the host nation forces,” he said.
