West African Chiefs of Defence Staff have urged the return of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to the regional bloc.
In January, these three military-led West African nations announced their immediate withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States, citing concerns that the organization posed a threat to its member states.
The regional Defence Chiefs emphasized the importance of their return to combat the insecurity in the region, particularly insurgency.
During a visit to Major General Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator of the Counter-terrorism Centre in Abuja, Gen. Christopher Musa, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff and the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, spoke on behalf of the Defence Chiefs.
Musa mentioned ongoing efforts to bring back the three countries and stressed the necessity for all nations in the region to collaborate in addressing security challenges in West Africa.
He expressed, “The foundation of progress lies in security. The high level of threats we face, especially insurgency, underscores the crucial need for collective action to achieve success. No single country can address this alone, hence the significance of collaboration.
“The withdrawal of the three countries is a matter of concern. We are dedicated to reinstating them as they too cannot combat this threat individually. Their absence would have repercussions on all of us.
“Hence, West Africans must unite in addressing these issues together. I commend the National Coordinator for his remarkable work. Despite only taking office in April, significant progress has been made, of which we are proud.”
Highlighting the rapid and widespread nature of insurgency in the region, Musa urged the Defence Chiefs to leave no stone unturned in curbing this menace.
He explained, “Insurgency is escalating rapidly and expanding extensively. It is imperative that we take comprehensive measures to prevent it from worsening. It is a pleasure for all of us to be here.
“We are committed to working together to ensure complete peace in our region. I previously served as the theatre commander in the Northeast when this disturbing situation began, and its evolution was gradual.
“Lessons learned emphasize the importance of a combined approach, where kinetic and non-kinetic efforts complement each other. This integrated strategy is what we must continue to pursue.”
In his comments, Laka emphasized the necessity for cooperation among West African countries to combat terrorism.
He also stressed the value of sharing experiences among regional countries as a key strategy to address insecurity.
Laka stated, “We aim to collaborate with our counterparts in West Africa and the Sahel. As they say, a fire in your brother’s house can spread to yours.
“It is essential to exchange knowledge. Our ambition does not stop at this facility; we intend to partner with Abidjan.
“This will be a collaborative effort. While we specialize in prevention, we plan to engage with all relevant centers to tackle the terrorism threat.”
He added, “Discussions are underway on developing a joint strategy to address this impediment to development and the people’s enjoyment of democratic benefits.
“Nigeria, with its extensive experience, has much to contribute. Every nation has its unique insights. Sharing these experiences is crucial in confronting the threat.”
Laka highlighted the center’s capabilities in addressing terrorism.
He detailed, “Our facility is equipped with advanced forensic laboratories, including state-of-the-art facilities for toxicology, fingerprints, DNA, handwriting analysis, and more. These resources will facilitate effective investigation of terrorism threats and related activities.”