ECOWAS powerless in the face of terrorist threat
On April 17, Benin suffered the deadliest jihadist attack in its history—a grim milestone in the escalating violence gripping the country’s northern region. The incident once again exposes the weakness of the regional security architecture and the worrying inertia of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States).
AES
According to Guinean media outlet Le Djely, it is high time for ECOWAS to assume its responsibilities. As a politically oriented organization rather than a military alliance, ECOWAS now faces a turning point: it must make an accurate assessment, adopt strong resolutions, and place civilian security at the heart of its priorities.
The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the bloc has only worsened the situation. The lack of coordination with the most exposed states has created a vacuum—one that jihadist groups are exploiting with deadly efficiency. In contrast, those three countries, now united under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), are beginning to see results: enhanced military training, procurement of equipment, and the strengthening of national armies are helping to contain the threat.
In a video widely shared on social media, a former director general of the Beninese police expressed outrage at ECOWAS’s failure to provide tangible support in the wake of the recent attacks. His frustration echoes a growing sense of abandonment in several West African capitals.
In response to the tragedy in Benin, ECOWAS issued a formal condemnation and a message of solidarity—but no concrete action has followed. For many experts, the organization is structurally ill-equipped to respond to the jihadist threat. It lacks a robust regional security mechanism capable of confronting the scale of the danger.
Meanwhile, the AES states are pushing forward. A joint force of 5,000 soldiers has been assembled to combat terrorism. From April 13 to 17, the air force chiefs of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger convened in Bamako to strengthen coordination and lay the groundwork for a common air defense system. According to some analysts, this emerging regional dynamic is filling a void left by ECOWAS.
A military officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, offered a stark assessment: “The Beninese army today—aside from a few elite units—resembles Burkina Faso’s in 2015 or Mali’s armed forces in 2011: under-equipped, outdated weapons, lack of training. No army can be forged without real combat experience.”