Regional Security: How ECOWAS, Nigeria and the Alliance of Sahel States Can Unite Against Violent Extremism

In a significant shift in the regional security landscape, a high-level delegation from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) recently visited Nigeria to explore the country’s innovative approaches to countering violent extremism. This renewed outreach marks a promising new beginning in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the Sahel region.

The AES, comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, has been grappling with persistent jihadist threats and regional instability. Nigeria, with its own experiences in addressing Boko Haram’s insurgency, offers valuable lessons in non-kinetic strategies. Research has shown that only 7% of terrorist groups operating between 1968 and 2006 were militarily defeated, while more than 40% ended their violence through negotiated settlements ¹.

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, emphasizes that military operations can only solve 30% of the country’s security challenges. He stresses that non-kinetic efforts rooted in good governance, equity, fairness, and justice will address the remaining 70%. This approach is reflected in Nigeria’s national Demobilisation, Deradicalisation, and Reintegration (DDR) programme, known as Operation Safe Corridor, and the Borno state government-led Borno Model.

The AES delegation’s visit to Nigeria underscores the growing realization that a comprehensive security strategy must include socio-political and economic interventions alongside military responses. This renewed outreach holds transformative promises, potentially fostering closer collaboration on tackling insecurity across the region and opening paths towards eventual reconciliation between ECOWAS and the AES.

Key Takeaways from the Visit

• Non-Kinetic Strategies: Nigeria’s experiences in implementing non-kinetic strategies offer valuable lessons for the AES countries.
• Regional Cooperation: The visit highlights the importance of regional cooperation in addressing shared security threats.
• Comprehensive Security: A comprehensive security strategy must include socio-political and economic interventions alongside military responses.

The Way Forward

Despite political challenges between AES and ECOWAS, Nigeria cannot afford to disengage from regional security cooperation. To address the threats posed by violent extremism, Nigeria must institutionalize collaboration with AES through structured mechanisms such as:

• Joint Security Initiatives: Joint security initiatives can help address shared security threats.
• Intelligence-Sharing Frameworks: Intelligence-sharing frameworks can facilitate the exchange of critical information.
• Specialized Training: Specialized training, including non-kinetic strategies, can enhance the capacity of regional security forces.

By working together, Nigeria and the AES can lead regional stabilization efforts and provide a model for African states to tackle shared security threats through pragmatic cooperation.