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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission on Wednesday, 13 July, 2022 lamented that no fewer than 14,500 people have been killed by terrorists in the West African region.
According to the outgoing President of the Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, the figure was recorded in just four and a half years.
He also revealed that the number of refugees within the region seeking humanitarian assistance stood at 5.5 million.
Kassi Brou who is to assume the position of the Governor of the West African bank spoke in Abuja during the handover of power to the new management of the Commission led by President Omar Alieu Touray.
He said: “First of all, the deterioration of the security situation has caused havoc not only in the Sahel area, affecting Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and the North East of Nigeria, but it soon expanded to the coastal zone, hitting Côte d’Ivoire, Benin and Togo.
“Terrorist attacks and herds of bandits plunged these countries into mourning, with close to 14,500 dead in 4 ½ years, threatening the peace of rural population, and forcing people to seek shelter away from their home areas.
“Thus, the number of refugees and internally displaced people in our Region reached about 5,500,000 persons who are in need of humanitarian assistance.”
He however said, the Commission has reached out to provide assistance to many of them, as well as to victims of natural disasters.
He added that a regional action plan to combat terrorism in the region has been followed.
Brou however said the plan would require sustained commitment including financial support from member states for it to be successful.
He said: “Regional action plan to combat terrorism in West Africa has been elaborated and is being implemented. It will necessitate sustained commitment including financial support from member States to produce the expected results in the medium to long term.”
Brou, who is leaving the Commission after completing his four year term in office, however lamented the spade of military takeover within the region.
He said, “On the political front, we have noted the deepening of the democratic culture in our Region, with eleven (11) countries having peacefully conducted presidential and legislative elections during our tenure. Unfortunately, three countries, namely Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, have experienced unconstitutional changes of powers.
“The Authority of Heads of State and Government having designated Mediators for these countries, negotiations are ongoing with their respective Transition Authorities to support these member countries for them to return to constitutional order and regain their full place in the Community.”
Speaking, the new president of the Commission, Omar Alieu Touray assured the community that his team would do everything possible to bring the ongoing reform to a logical conclusion.