In a sombre address at the opening of the High Level Consultative Conference on Regional Cooperation and Security held in Accra, Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa expressed profound concern regarding the escalating threat of terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel. His remarks signal a deepening anxiety about the region’s growing vulnerability to violent extremism and the systemic fragilities that hinder collective resilience.
Speaking to delegates and security stakeholders, Ablakwa noted that West Africa and the Sahel now account for between 47 and 59 percent of all documented global terrorism incidents, marking a significant shift in the epicentre of violent extremism from the Middle East to the African continent. According to data cited by the Minister, the region experiences an average of 44 deaths daily due to terrorist attacks. Over the past fifteen years, such attacks have risen by 1,266 percent, with fatalities increasing by an alarming 2,860 percent over the same period.
These statistics, consistent with data from the Global Terrorism Index and regional analyses by institutions such as the Institute for Security Studies Africa, underscore the breadth and depth of the threat facing countries in the region. Beyond the direct toll on human life, the effects reverberate through the social, political and economic fabric of states already grappling with complex transitions.
In addition to the surge in terrorism, Ablakwa identified the persistence of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and the scourge of human trafficking across unregulated borders as interlinked security challenges undermining the region’s integrity. He warned that the absence of consistent intelligence sharing and the erosion of intergovernmental trust have impaired effective responses to shared threats. According to him, fragmentation and institutional suspicion have weakened collective mechanisms, diminishing both regional capacity and solidarity.
The Minister appealed to participating countries to move beyond performative engagement and adopt a shared culture of transparency and strategic trust building. He emphasised that such cooperation must be rooted in consistent engagement and genuine political will, and not merely convened in moments of crisis. “Trust is not built overnight. It is forged through consistent engagement, demonstrated solidarity in times of crisis and a willingness to place collective interest above narrow national gain,” he stated.
Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak echoed these sentiments, highlighting the evolving nature of violent extremism in the region. He described the expansion and sophistication of terror networks as an existential challenge, stressing the urgent need for enhanced intelligence capacity and coordination among regional security institutions.
The High Level Consultative Conference represents a critical moment for reimagining the future of regional cooperation. It reflects an increasingly accepted view among African policy leaders that a security-first approach must be complemented by inclusive governance, socio economic equity and a dismantling of inherited security paradigms that remain largely externally constructed.
Security analysts have argued that the geopolitical evolution of terrorism across the continent is deeply entwined with local governance vacuums, climate vulnerabilities and the marginalisation of border communities. Such insights are supported by extensive research from the African Union Commission and civil society observers who advocate for a holistic approach that treats security not as a stand-alone sector but as part of a broader human development agenda.
This pan African understanding reframes regional instability not merely as a theatre of crisis but as an arena of complex and interwoven realities, demanding nuanced and locally grounded solutions. The challenge, therefore, is not only one of policy but of narrative. Moving beyond singular portrayals of victimhood, the conversations unfolding in Accra may offer a more humanised, internally driven lens through which to comprehend the shifts in Africa’s security landscape.
The conference continues with delegates expected to draft a framework for future cooperation. It remains to be seen whether rhetorical commitments will materialise into substantive change. However, the urgency is undeniable. The question confronting the region is not only how to end the violence but how to do so through mechanisms that affirm the dignity, agency and collective aspirations of African people.
