In a decisive response to the escalating security crisis in West Africa, regional Heads of State and senior officials have concluded a two-day high-level consultative conference with a commitment to overhaul their collective defense and governance strategies.
The summit, held from January 29–30, 2026, brought together leaders from Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, alongside representatives from Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Mauritania. Hosted by Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, the conference aimed to address a grim reality: the region has become the global epicenter of terrorism, recording an average of eight attacks and 44 deaths every day.
A Shift Toward “Human Security”
The resulting joint communiqué signals a major strategic pivot. Moving away from purely military interventions, the leaders pledged to adopt a “human security” approach. This framework prioritizes food security, healthcare, and job creation as essential tools to combat the root causes of radicalization.
”Inaction is not an option,” the communiqué stated, noting that more than half of all global terrorism-related deaths now occur within the region. The leaders emphasized that for peace to be sustainable, the state’s presence must be felt through public service delivery rather than just security enforcement.
Key Security Agreements
To combat the fluid movement of extremist groups and transnational criminals, the delegation agreed to several high-impact measures:
- “Hot-Pursuit” Protocols: Leaders are considering bilateral and multilateral agreements that would allow security forces to pursue criminals across national borders.
- Legal Harmonization: The conference committed to aligning legal frameworks to ensure easier cross-border prosecution of terrorism-related offenses.
- A Six-Month Deadline: A foundational Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation and Security is to be designed within six months, with a draft ready for review in just 90 days.
Climate and Digital Modernization
The summit also recognized climate change as a “threat multiplier” that exacerbates regional instability. Consequently, the leaders agreed to integrate climate and food security into all future peace and security planning. Additionally, there was a consensus to leverage digital technology to modernize border management and improve the efficiency of public services.
Future Outlook
To ensure these commitments translate into “measurable outcomes,” the conference will now serve as a bi-annual platform. A formal mechanism will also be established to track the progress of the implementation of the communiqué’s goals.
The Ghanaian Minister for Foreign Affairs has been tasked with leading the formulation of the foundational MoU, which will serve as the legal bedrock for future resource mobilization and security coordination.
