The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in partnership with Islamic scholars and organisations, has urged stronger regional unity and non-violent strategies to combat terrorism and extremism across West Africa and the Sahel.
This was the key message as the first West African Islamic Conference on Security and Governance concluded on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja.
The three-day conference, themed “The Role of Islamic Organisations in Countering Terrorism in the Sahel,” was jointly organised by ECOWAS and the Jamiyyatu Ansariddeen Attijaniyya.
The gathering brought together Islamic leaders, traditional rulers, political figures, scholars, and representatives of member states alongside international organisations.
Speaking at the closing session, ECOWAS Commission President, Dr. Omar Touray, described the event as “a landmark in regional cooperation against terrorism,” noting the growing shift of global terrorism towards Africa.
“The 2025 Global Terrorism Index shows that Africa has become the new hub of terrorism, with the Sahel region experiencing a dramatic surge in terrorist incidents,” Touray said.
He added that ECOWAS’ Action Plan Against Terrorism integrates both military and non-military approaches, while stressing the need to modernise traditional Quranic schools to prevent radicalisation.
“We must modernise our traditional Islamic schools and transform them into centres of formal education and economic empowerment,” he said, acknowledging ongoing efforts by member states to align such schools with national curricula.
Also speaking, the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, commended ECOWAS and its partners for their proactive leadership in addressing insecurity.
“Your commitment to regional peace and security is a beacon of hope for our people,” he stated. “Let us work together to build a region where everyone can live in peace, security, and dignity.”
The African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, in a message delivered by ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security,
Ambassador Abdel-Fatah Musah, said the objective of the conference was to strengthen the role of Islamic institutions in promoting peace through non-kinetic measures.
“Participants affirmed that authentic Islamic teachings promote peace, justice, and respect for human life, rejecting all forms of extremism and violence,” Chambas noted.
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He highlighted poverty, unemployment, political marginalisation, and weak governance as key drivers of extremist recruitment, urging sustained efforts to address these root causes.
“With over 40 million children out of school and a 10 percent rise in terrorism-related deaths in the past decade, we must act decisively,” Chambas warned. “Let us empower Islamic organisations to foster peace, tolerance, and coexistence across our communities.”
The conference, which featured 11 sessions across seven thematic areas, explored the socio-economic and political dimensions of radicalisation, reforms in Islamic education, and strategies for youth empowerment.
It concluded with the adoption of the Regional Declaration on Improving Islamic Education and Countering Violent Extremism, which outlines collective actions to strengthen Islamic organisations’ roles in advancing peace, unity, and resilience in the region.
Over the last decade, the Sahel and West Africa have faced escalating terrorist activity, with groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State exploiting weak governance, porous borders, and local grievances to expand their foothold in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, northern Nigeria, and parts of coastal West Africa.