ECOWAS and Egypt Discuss Enhanced Cooperation in Peace and Security

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Arab Republic of Egypt are forging a new partnership aimed at enhancing peace and security in the West African region. This collaboration was highlighted during a recent meeting between the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, H.E. Mohamed Fouad, and ECOWAS Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musa in Abuja, Nigeria.

Commissioner Musa emphasized the importance of cooperation in areas such as the operationalization of the ECOWAS counter-terrorism force and the prevention of proxy wars in the region. He also expressed ECOWAS’s commitment to regional integration and pan-Africanism, opposing the idea of member states withdrawing from the community.

The Commissioner highlighted the need for Egypt’s support in addressing the security challenges in the Sahel region, which have a significant impact on peace and stability in West Africa. Ambassador Fouad, in turn, praised ECOWAS as the most successful regional economic community in Africa and emphasized Egypt’s willingness to collaborate on issues of terrorism, cross-border crimes, and insurgencies.

Both sides expressed optimism about the potential benefits of the partnership, with Egypt offering its expertise in peacekeeping, mediation, and integration efforts to support ECOWAS’s objectives. The cooperation between ECOWAS and Egypt is seen as a step towards creating a safer and more stable environment in West Africa, ultimately contributing to the continent’s overall peace and security.