Sierra Leone President Julius Mada Pio received the presidency of the Economic Group of West countries Africa (EicasTo succeed Nigerian President Paula Ahmed Tenobo, during a summit held in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, at a time when the region faces the escalation of security threats and increasing political tensions.
“Our region stands at a crossroads,” Pio said, noting that West Africa faces “old and renewable” challenges, among them the deterioration of security conditions in the Sahel region and coastal countries, the escalation of terrorism, political instability, the growing smuggling of weapons and cross -border crime.
Several countries in West Africa have witnessed during the last decade of military coups or coup attempts, which has strained relations between some member states.
3 countries under the leadership of military systems, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, withdrew from the organization this year, and formed a new alliance under the name of the “coalition of the coast countries”.
Armed groups are taking advantage of regional tensions to expand their influence, as their attacks were intensified recently in Mali, incursions into major cities in Burkina Faso, and caused heavy losses to the army in Niger.
Nigeria, the host country of the summit, also witnessed the attacks that targeted villages and military bases.
For his part, the head of the outgoing organization Paula Tenobo acknowledged that “security challenges, violent extremism and cross -border threats are still hindering our aspirations,” calling for strengthening regional cooperation to confront them.
Despite the pledge of military regimes in the coast countries to make security a priority, they have not yet succeeded in stopping the expansion of armed groups, which have threatened the western coast countries more than ever.