The West African bloc is set to discuss strengthening a regional standby force to tackle insecurity and threats of coups. Omar Touray told the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday that half a million people in the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are refugees and nearly 6.2 million are internally displaced. He said the region is worried about the resurgence of the military, with three countries – Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea – under military rule. “The reversal of democratic gains runs parallel to insecurity that West Africa and the Sahel have been facing for some time now,” said Touray, a former Gambian foreign minister. Simao appealed for “robust and decisive support” for the ECOWAS action plan to stem insecurity in the Sahel.

Source: Daily Observer July 27, 2023 04:12 UTC