Policies by Ecowas States Against International Terrorism in the West Africa Sub-Region Medu, Kelvin Oghenerukevwe PhD
Abstract
The ECOWAS States' counterterrorism measures in the West Africa sub-region were examined in this study. Using the historical research design, secondary data was gathered from the corpus of existing literature on international terrorism. Qualitative research showed, among other things, that radical Islamic organisations such as the Hammers, Taliban, Al-Qaida, and Boko Haram support the majority of terrorist activities in the West Africa sub-region. These groups claim to be fighting against Western education and aiming to spread Islam and create Islamic States in the area. The information that is now available suggests that the governments of West African states have not fully grasped the interconnected relationship between anti- terrorism and good governance, notwithstanding ECOWAS's impressive efforts to advance democracy. Given the findings, the study recommends that States in the sub-region should build and strengthen institutions to be able to design anti-terrorism policies/laws and train law enforcement and criminal justice personnel in the implementation of counterterrorism policies in compliance with the rule of law and respect for human rights. Above all, the study recommends that ECOWAS member states should be committed to the joint regional action against terrorism and tackle issues such as border security, inadequate funding, intelligent gathering and sharing, joint military actions, tracking terrorist funding, political stability and cooperation and be more compliance to signed agreements.
Keywords
ECOWAS; ECOWAS States; International terrorism; West Africa sub-region;
References
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