ECOWAS Votes $1bn To Fight Boko Haram Militants, al-Qaeda In Sahel

The Chair ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Government, Nana Addo Akufo- Addo, on Monday revealed that the body has earmarked $1 to fight al-Qaeda in the Sahel and the Boko Haram militants.

He said this during his ongoing working visit in Abuja monitored by THE WHISTLER.

Akufo- Addo, who is the President of Ghana, had in Niamey, Niger, said he was focused on addressing challenges in the region including the issue of terrorism, the African Continental Free Trade Area and Monetary Union.

He said, ” To this end, $1bn was programmed for the financing of activities in the Action Plan. We have to intensify our efforts to ensure that the Plan of Action is well financed, with a view to ridding our Community of terrorism.”

He however admitted that the funds were not on ground but the body was making efforts to raise the needed fund which he said may not be enough to fight insurgency in the region.

He said the region in recent years has become a hot-bed of terrorists and extremists activities, as a result of greater activism of groups operating in the North East of Nigeria, the Lake Chad Basin, Mali and the Greater Sahel.

“Endemic poverty and widespread disillusionment amongst youth in Africa are not only providing fertile breeding grounds for those who want to cross the Sahara Desert on foot, and the Mediterranean Sea in rickety boats, in the hope of finding a better future in Europe, but also for a new generation of terrorists and violent extremist, ” he added.

He said it is worrying because surrogates of al-Qaeda in the Sahel, and Boko Haram militants, operating around the Lake Chad basin are exploiting the unacceptable levels of poverty in these areas, in the recruitment and indoctrination of youth.

The two groups are the most active terrorist groups in West Africa.

The Ghanian President said the growing number of break-away terror groups, notably the spread of ethno-linguistic groups, and the porous nature of the borders, demand strong regional approach to contain the growing threats of terrorist and extremist activities.

The Chairman also noted that winning the fight against Covid-19 in the region remains a matter of major priority for countries in the Region.

The President of Ghana also admitted the virus has wreaked havoc on the economies of member states and on the lives and livelihoods of the peoples.

Akufo- Addo explained the need for infra regional trade in the continent under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

He said AfCTA is one of the best ways to develop fruitful relations between the different countries.

He also said ECOWAS will gain tremendously from the Free Trade Area, which comes into operation on January 1, 2021.

The President further called for the consolidation of democratic governance in West Africa.

According to him, without peace, security and political stability, there can be no meaningful development.

The body gave the Malian authority this week to hand to a democratic government. This Akufo -Addo said is a prerequisite for lifting ECOWAS sanction on Mali.