Sierra Leone Condemns Rising Terrorism as ECOWAS Opens 59th Ministerial Conference

Chairman of the ECOWAS Ministerial Committee on Mediation and Security Council (MSC) and Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Musa Timothy Kabba, has condemned the increasing wave of terrorism in West Africa while declaring open the 59th Session of the ECOWAS Ministerial Conference in Freetown on 15 July 2026.

Kabba acknowledged that “West Africa today faces enormous pressure from persistent threats of terrorism, transnational organised crime, democratic consolidation challenges, and violent extremism.”

He further remarked that “the region’s capacity to convene, consult, collaborate, and act decisively on these issues is commendable.”

He also highlighted the operationalisation of ECOWAS’ Early Warning and Response Centres and its Standby Force, progress on its Social and Economic Council, the thorny Mono River border dispute, and the election observation missions.

ECOWAS will hold the Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting, which will be followed by the meeting of Heads of State and Government at the new Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre on 19 July 2026.