US EditionECOWAS Urges Quranic School Reform as Sahel Terror Deaths Surge
ECOWAS supports modernization of Quranic schools and collaboration with Islamic groups to reduce youth radicalization and terrorism in West Africa, where the 2025 Global Terrorism Index shows rising threats.
- ECOWAS convened a three-day West African Islamic conference in Abuja to modernize traditional Quranic schools into formal learning centres, with Omar Alieu Touray pledging support to protect students from extremist recruitment.
- Cross-Border spillover from the Sahel has driven rising attacks and displacement in coastal West African states, with ACLED recording 171 attacks in one country in 2023 and over 110,000 displaced since October 2024.
- Conference participants urged reforms blending Islamic and formal education, improved funding, teacher training, and policy inclusion, calling for collaboration with government and security agencies to empower Imams and strengthen the Almajiri system.
- The ECOWAS Regional Action Plan Against Terrorism specifies roles for state and non-state actors and invites stakeholders, including Jamiat Ansar Fiddin and the UN, to support joint projects.
- Political risks may increase in northern Ghana as the upcoming election could worsen tensions, but also offers a chance to recalibrate counter-extremism efforts, regional policymakers and security agencies said.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Violent Extremism in the Sahel
The persistent and growing strength of violent extremist organizations in the Sahel threatens to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis and spread instability across Africa, posing significant security and financial risks to the United States and Europe. The continuing collapse of international counterterrorism support, as well as weakening leadership in regional efforts, has created a vacuum in which violent ex
ECOWAS, Islamic scholars join forces to tackle terrorism in West Africa - Businessday NG
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in partnership with Islamic scholars and organisations, has called for stronger unity, cooperation, and the adoption of non-violent strategies to counter terrorism and violent extremism across West Africa and the Sahel.
ECOWAS seeks modernisation of Islamic schools to tackle terrorism, extremism
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called for the modernisation of traditional Islamic schools to tackle the surging scourge of terrorism and violent extremism across the sub-region. President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, made the appeal on Thursday in Abuja at the West African Islamic Conference on Security and Governance. […]
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