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West African nations’ leaders, met European representatives and discussed homegrown ways to prevent jihadist conflict in the Sahel region, spreading fast in the region across the Gulf of Guinea, particularly in the coastal belt countries such as Ghana, Benin, Togo, and Ivory Coast, which face increasing threats and attacks from Islamist militants. Countries like Burkina Faso and Niger are not also spared
West African nations’ leaders, met European representatives and discussed homegrown ways to prevent jihadist conflict in the Sahel region, spreading fast in the region across the Gulf of Guinea, particularly in the coastal belt countries such as Ghana, Benin, Togo, and Ivory Coast, which face increasing threats and attacks from Islamist militants. Countries like Burkina Faso and Niger are not also spared.
The summit being held in Ghana’s capital Accra is taking place at a time when more western nations have withdrawn peacekeepers from Mali after its (Mali’s) military junta strengthened cooperation with Russia. Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo flagged the worsening security situation in the Sahel region, which was threatening to engulf the entire West African region. Tasting initial success, the terror groups were strategizing to enter new operational grounds, he said.
Under the Accra Initiative, heads of state from the Gulf of Guinea and leaders from Niger and Burkina Faso met in Ghana with representatives from the West African bloc ECOWAS, the EU, Britain, and France.
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The Sahel conflict began in northern Mali in 2012 and spread to Burkina Faso and Niger in 2015. Now states in the Gulf of Guinea are suffering sporadic attacks. Ghana has beefed up security along its northern frontier and has so far escaped any cross-border attacks. But Benin and Togo in particular have faced threats from across their northern borders with Burkina Faso. Benin has recorded 20 incursions since 2021 while Togo has suffered at least five attacks, including two deadly assaults, since November 2021. But after two coups in Mali, the military junta increased cooperation with Moscow and allowed what Western countries call Russian mercenaries into the country, forcing western forces to announce the withdrawal of their forces from Mali’s territory. There is international concern about the spread of terror in the region and what would its consequences be on the economic expansion of the region.
