ECOWAS Chair Calls For Collaboration To Wipe Out Terrorism
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation
ECOWAS Chair, President John Mahama, is rallying the support of colleague Heads of State in the sub-region and the African continent to completely wipe out activities of terrorist groups.
He says just as coordinated efforts are being employed in the fight against the deadly Ebola, the same needs to be applied to the fight against terrorism.
Addressing a news conference on the sidelines of the high level meeting of ECOWAS partners on Ebola in Accra, President Mahama stated that the many lives lost to violence is needless.
He said it is time the continent shared information, synchronized strategies and pooled resources to fight terrorist attacks on a common front.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) wants the creation of a regional or multi-national force to deal with the Boko Haram menace in Nigeria.
Consequently, ECOWAS will formally table a suggestion before the African Union ( AU) at its 24th Session in Ethiopia next week for consideration.
President Mahama said "it appears the attack was getting more intense with 10,000 lives lost already and the time has come for us to deal with it decisively."
ECOWAS Chair President Mahama said Africa must not stand by idly waiting for the international community to intervene on its behalf when it had the ability to fight back against the calamities perpetrated by Boko Haram. In doing that, however, there was the need for a more wider military force.
Already, the armed forces of Nigeria and Cameroon have been employing the military option but they appear overwhelmed by the tactics and firepower of the terrorist group.
"I think we are increasingly coming to a point where a regional or multi-national force is being seriously considered.
"But if that will happen, there must be a mandate given by the AU to allow such a force to operate.
"These are extraordinary times that call for measures that are equally extraordinary," the ECOWAS Chair said.
He added that immediately ECOWAS received the report about the most recent attack by Boko Haram, it issued a statement to condemn the attack and reaffirmed its solidarity with Nigeria.
Answering a question about whether Boko Haram did not pose a threat to this year's Nigerian presidential election, President Mahama said everything was being done to ensure that the election passed successfully.
"The elections must go forward. Nigeria cannot delay those elections because of Boko Haram. It must have given Boko Haram the victory they did not deserve," he said.
He said ECOWAS, AU and the UN were in touch with the Nigerian authorities to ensure the elections went on peacefully.
Meanwhile, President Mahama is expected to discuss the terrorism agenda and the Ebola epidemic in West Africa with German President, Angela Merkel, during his state visit to Germany next week.
Portions of this report are from the Daily Graphic.
GBC
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| Ghana President and ECOWAS chairman John Mahama with regional leaders. |
ECOWAS Chair, President John Mahama, is rallying the support of colleague Heads of State in the sub-region and the African continent to completely wipe out activities of terrorist groups.
He says just as coordinated efforts are being employed in the fight against the deadly Ebola, the same needs to be applied to the fight against terrorism.
Addressing a news conference on the sidelines of the high level meeting of ECOWAS partners on Ebola in Accra, President Mahama stated that the many lives lost to violence is needless.
He said it is time the continent shared information, synchronized strategies and pooled resources to fight terrorist attacks on a common front.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) wants the creation of a regional or multi-national force to deal with the Boko Haram menace in Nigeria.
Consequently, ECOWAS will formally table a suggestion before the African Union ( AU) at its 24th Session in Ethiopia next week for consideration.
President Mahama said "it appears the attack was getting more intense with 10,000 lives lost already and the time has come for us to deal with it decisively."
ECOWAS Chair President Mahama said Africa must not stand by idly waiting for the international community to intervene on its behalf when it had the ability to fight back against the calamities perpetrated by Boko Haram. In doing that, however, there was the need for a more wider military force.
Already, the armed forces of Nigeria and Cameroon have been employing the military option but they appear overwhelmed by the tactics and firepower of the terrorist group.
"I think we are increasingly coming to a point where a regional or multi-national force is being seriously considered.
"But if that will happen, there must be a mandate given by the AU to allow such a force to operate.
"These are extraordinary times that call for measures that are equally extraordinary," the ECOWAS Chair said.
He added that immediately ECOWAS received the report about the most recent attack by Boko Haram, it issued a statement to condemn the attack and reaffirmed its solidarity with Nigeria.
Answering a question about whether Boko Haram did not pose a threat to this year's Nigerian presidential election, President Mahama said everything was being done to ensure that the election passed successfully.
"The elections must go forward. Nigeria cannot delay those elections because of Boko Haram. It must have given Boko Haram the victory they did not deserve," he said.
He said ECOWAS, AU and the UN were in touch with the Nigerian authorities to ensure the elections went on peacefully.
Meanwhile, President Mahama is expected to discuss the terrorism agenda and the Ebola epidemic in West Africa with German President, Angela Merkel, during his state visit to Germany next week.
Portions of this report are from the Daily Graphic.
GBC
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