The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called on the United Nations and development partners to rally behind Member States in their ongoing battle against terrorist groups operating across the region.
In a statement issued by the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, the regional body dismissed allegations of genocide against any particular religious group, describing such claims as “false and dangerous.”
“ECOWAS strongly rejects these misleading assertions, which only serve to heighten insecurity and undermine social cohesion within our communities,” the statement read.
The Commission further noted that terrorist violence in West Africa affects all segments of society. “Perpetrators of these heinous acts target innocent civilians of all faiths — Muslims, Christians, and followers of other religions alike,” it stated, adding that independent reports have consistently shown that terrorism in the region “does not discriminate on the basis of gender, religion, ethnicity, or age.”
ECOWAS, therefore, urged the international community to stand in solidarity with West African nations in their collective effort to combat terrorism and restore peace and stability across the region.
Oyenike Oyeniyi