West African leaders move to deepen regional security as terror attacks surge

Leaders of West African countries have agreed to establish a structured and permanent framework for regional cooperation to confront the rising threat of terrorism, transnational crime and governance challenges across the sub-region.

The resolution was reached at the end of a two-day Consultative Conference on Regional Cooperation and Security held in Accra, Ghana, from January 29 to 30, 2026, bringing together Heads of State and Government and senior representatives from across West Africa.

The meeting was chaired by John Dramani Mahama, Ghana’s President, with Julius Maada Bio, Presidents of Sierra Leone and Joseph Boakai of Liberia leading their respective national delegations.

Other participating countries included Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo. Senior officials responsible for foreign affairs, defence, security and intelligence also took part, alongside representatives of the African Union Commission, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and civil society organisations.

In a joint communiqué issued at the close of the conference, leaders expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in West Africa, describing the region as the current global epicentre of terrorism and violent extremism.

According to the communiqué, at least eight terrorist attacks are recorded daily across the region, claiming an average of 44 lives.

It noted that more than half of all terrorism-related deaths worldwide now occur in West Africa and its immediate neighbourhood, underscoring the urgency of coordinated action.

The leaders said that West African countries are deeply interconnected through geography, shared ecosystems, trade routes and cross-border communities whose livelihoods depend on free movement.

“As a result, insecurity in one country quickly spills over into others, making unilateral responses ineffective”, they added.

Participants agreed that episodic diplomacy and limited operational coordination are no longer sufficient to address the scale and complexity of the threats facing the region.

Instead, the conference resolved to rebuild and deepen sub-regional collaboration through a structured and permanent cooperation framework.

The proposed framework will focus on developing shared programmes, standards and infrastructure priorities, while managing common security, economic and social risks.

Leaders warned that fragmentation in regional responses imposes heavy economic and security costs and weakens collective problem-solving capacity, particularly in counterterrorism efforts.

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to regional solidarity, respect for national sovereignty and the strengthening of cooperation to address evolving peace, security and governance challenges.

On security and counterterrorism, the conference recognised the close link between violent extremism and transnational organised crime.

To address this, participants agreed to strengthen regular regional meetings to review peace and security commitments, enhance intelligence and information sharing, and harmonise legal frameworks to support cross-border prosecution of terrorism-related offences while safeguarding human rights.

The leaders also pledged to strengthen the implementation of de-radicalisation programmes across the region.

To tackle porous borders and the fluid movement of criminal and extremist groups, the conference agreed to explore the adoption of “hot pursuit” arrangements through bilateral, minilateral or multilateral agreements.

“These arrangements would allow security forces to pursue criminal elements across borders under agreed legal frameworks”, they said.

In addition, the meeting resolved to develop a foundational Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and supporting protocols on cooperation and security within six months.

A draft MoU is expected to be formulated within three months under a process led by Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, for consideration by Heads of State.

The MoU will also address mechanisms to combat trafficking in narcotics, arms and persons.

Acknowledging that military responses alone cannot guarantee lasting peace, the leaders committed to a shift toward a “human security” approach to regional stability.

This approach prioritises the safety and wellbeing of people through improved access to food, healthcare, education and employment.

The conference also emphasised the need to strengthen local governance, ensuring that state presence is felt through effective service delivery rather than solely through security enforcement.

Participants agreed to leverage digital and emerging technologies to modernise governance systems, improve border management and enhance public service delivery.

Recognising climate change as a major threat multiplier, the conference resolved to integrate climate and food security considerations into regional peace and security planning.

Leaders agreed to develop a collective disaster preparedness and response framework, including coordinated mechanisms for humanitarian assistance and support for displaced populations.

The conference recommended that the consultative meeting be institutionalised as a biannual platform for sustained dialogue and coordination.

According to them, the foundational MoU will serve as the legal basis for future bilateral, minilateral and multilateral security cooperation, including provisions for resource mobilisation.

They also noted that a dedicated mechanism would also be established to track progress and ensure implementation of the conference’s resolutions ahead of subsequent biannual meetings.