By Fatoumatta L Sisay
The Gambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, His Excellency Dr. Mamadou Tangara was last week in Abuja, Nigeria to participate in the 52nd Session of the Mediation and Security Council ministerial meeting. The meeting aimed to assess the sub-region’s political, peace, and security situation.
In his opening statement, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission noted that at the recently concluded ambassadorial preparatory meeting, extensive deliberations were held on the Commission’s efforts in addressing developments in the political, security and humanitarian situation of the sub-region.
Dr. Touray announced that the subsequent ECOWAS Summit would consider memoranda on the sub-region’s political, peace and security situations. The Summit will also critically assess the memorandum on the operationalisation of the ECOWAS security architecture and the report of the meeting of Finance and Defence Ministers.
The Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister, His Excellency Yusuf Tuggar, who doubles as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers highlighted terrorism as one of the major threats the Community is facing. He urged the meeting to adopt appropriate response measures in addressing the challenges being faced by the member states. Minister Tuggar said “it is crucial for every country within ECOWAS, including those in the Sahelian belt, to understand that the fight against terrorism is not the burden of a few but a collective responsibility. Therefore, he advised that they remain united, and demonstrate unwavering commitment and resolve to safeguard the lives and futures of their citizens.
