Nigeria Advocates for ECOWAS-Sahel Security Cooperation

On Tuesday, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, advocated for stronger security collaboration between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to address terrorism, insurgency, and transnational crimes. Musa made this call during a three-day working visit to Cotonou, Benin Republic, aimed at harmonizing regional defense strategies.

He stressed that West Africa's security challenges necessitate a coordinated regional response and urged both ECOWAS and AES leadership to unite against insurgency and enhance maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. Musa was welcomed at Cotonou International Airport by Benin’s Minister of National Defence, Gildas Agonkan, who praised Nigeria's role in promoting peace in West Africa.

During the visit, Musa also met with Nigerian troops in Togbin and visited Nigeria House, where he discussed troop welfare and operational effectiveness. The AES includes Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which have distanced themselves from ECOWAS due to political disagreements but share common security threats.