ECOWAS has warned the UN Security Council that terrorism has become an existential threat to West Africa, calling for global support and the accelerated deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force.
ECOWAS has issued a stark warning to the United Nations that terrorism now poses an “existential threat” to West Africa, according to a report from ARISE NEWS. ECOWAS Commission President Dr Omar Touray delivered the message while briefing the UN Security Council on regional counterterrorism efforts, stating that terror groups are expanding beyond the Sahel into coastal states, disrupting economies and destabilizing governance.
According to the ECOWAS data presented at the briefing, the region recorded about 450 terrorist incidents between January and November 2025, resulting in more than 1,900 deaths. Officials noted that while the central Sahel accounted for most attacks, no country has been spared. Touray warned that extremists are increasingly waging “economic warfare” by blocking fuel distribution and trade routes.
ECOWAS said it is fast-tracking the activation of a 1,650-member Standby Force, expected to expand to 5,000 personnel. The commission urged the Security Council to ensure predictable funding under Resolution 2719.
The meeting also heard from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who described the worsening humanitarian and security situation in the Sahel and called for coherent international action. Touray further highlighted mistrust among regional governments, warning: “No amount of money or equipment will defeat terrorism if we cannot trust one another.”
He appealed for unity, coordination, and sustained global support to defeat extremist networks.