The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), established in 1975, has long been a stabilizing force in the region, fostering economic cooperation and collective security among its 15 member states. However, recent political upheavals, military coups, and internal divisions have exposed cracks in the regional bloc, weakening its ability to address security threats. At the same time, insurgency and violent extremism are spreading across West Africa, exacerbating instability. This analysis explores the deepening fractures within ECOWAS, their impact on counterinsurgency efforts, and the growing security threats posed by insurgents in the region. By Abdallah el-Kurebe The ECOWAS crisis: A…
Author: Editor
In recent years, a troubling pattern has emerged in Nigeria: military airstrikes intended to combat terrorism are increasingly resulting in the tragic deaths and injuries of innocent civilians. These incidents have left entire communities in mourning and have raised serious questions about the accuracy of military operations, the reliability of intelligence, and the commitment to safeguarding civilian lives in conflict zones. By Abdallah el-Kurebe The Kurebe tragedy In early 2022, the once peaceful Kurebe community in Niger State’s Shiroro Local Government Area became a scene of unimaginable horror. An airstrike aimed at bandits hiding nearby mistakenly struck civilian homes, leading…
This week, I am in Niamey, Niger Republic engaged in an initiative to create a pathway that could free the Sahel from the existential crisis it faces. In September, a high level panel was inaugurated with an open mandate to galvanise African intellectual and political power in seeking solutions to the insecurity raging in the sub-region and placing development back on the agenda. The Panel is led by the former President of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, who working with four other members from the continent. The Panel is supported by the United Nations, the African Union and G5-Sahel and has been…
Kenya’s Supreme Court has ruled that William Ruto was properly elected president, dismissing several petitions seeking to annul the result of the 9 August election. His rival, Raila Odinga, and others had alleged that massive fraud, including tampering with results forms, had taken place. Mr Ruto garnered 50.5% of the vote in the closely fought election. The 55-year-old will be sworn in as the country’s fifth president next week. The eight petitions challenging the elections were all dismissed. The court found some were based on forged documents and “sensational information”, Chief Justice Martha Koome said in a unanimous decision on…
The encomiums and the tributes are pouring down like the cool rain on Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, as in indeed they should. He turned 70 on August 31. At 70, the countdown begins for all men and women born of women. He can rightly stand on that promontory of three score and ten years and survey his wonderous but challenging journey in his 46 years of tending the flock and finding and guiding the lost sheep back home. Kukah is an exceptional Nigerian. He is an exceptional religious leader; an exceptional patriot, and…
In May 2021, the International Energy Agency (IEA) issued a report calling for a halt to oil and gas exploration around the globe at the end of the year African countries are hardly alone in their refusal to accept global pressure to rush their transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydrogen power. In May 2021, the International Energy Agency (IEA) issued a report, “Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector ,” calling for a halt to oil and gas exploration around the globe at the end of the year. That…
I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion – Alexander The Great A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way – John C. Maxwell A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves – Lao Tzu, Laozi A kingdom (nation) can endure with unbelief, but it cannot endure with injustice – Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio Alexander III of Macedon, commonly…
The continent stands on the cusp of a tech explosion with several nations having achieved sustained growth in internet-driven GDP (iGDP)2 – in many cases doubling from 1.5% to more than 3% since 2012 As the digital transformation continues to stride across Africa, it is clearing the way and opening vast swathes of potential for its nations, businesses, and citizens. The continent stands on the cusp of a tech explosion with several nations having achieved sustained growth in internet-driven GDP (iGDP)2 – in many cases doubling from 1.5% to more than 3% since 2012 (https://accntu.re/3Cz3zY4). Some experts put the economic growth…
A 40-year-old man lost his life in an inferno at a general hospital at Badawa Layout in Nassarawa local government area of Kano state on Wednesday. Kano State Fire Service spokesperson, Saminu Abdullahi stated on Thursday that the service received an emergency call on Wednesday that there was a fire outbreak at the facility. “On arrival we found that the fire was in a generator room where two diesel tanks, four sets of generators had been completely razed, “The victim sustained some injuries and was taken out of the generator room unconscious. “He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Muhammad…
The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared N954.085 billion to the three tiers of government, as federation allocation for July. This is according to a statement signed by Mr Phil Abiamuwe-Mowete, the Director (Information) on Wednesday in Abuja. From the amount, the Federal Government received N406.610 billion; the states received N281.342 billion; while the Local Government Councils got N210.617 billion. This was inclusive of Gross Statutory Revenue and Value Added Tax (VAT), It said that the oil producing states received N55.515 billion as derivation (13 per cent of Mineral Revenue). The statement indicated that the Gross Revenue available from the…