President Muhammadu Buhari has called on civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, bilateral and multilateral development partners and other non-state actors to support their host governments in the fight against terrorism and transnational organised crimes.
The Nigerian president, who was speaking in Accra, Ghana, at the Accra Initiative Summit of Heads of State and Government on November 22, 2022, said the fight against terrorism and other transnational crimes requires the active participation of members of all spheres of society, including non-state actors.
Represented by the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.), Buhari expressed appreciation to the various partners of the Accra Initiative who keenly supported the actualisation of the various meetings taking place in Ghana.
The president, who said Nigeria was pleased to be present to observe the proceedings of the Accra Initiative, promised to take note of the report of the Non-State Actors Conference and Technical Meeting held on 17th and 18th November, 2022.
The Accra Initiative was established in 2017 by Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo to prevent spillover of terrorism from the Sahel and to address transnational organised crime and violent extremism in member countries’ border areas.
While acknowledging the myriad of security challenges confronting West African countries, including terrorism, piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, human and drug trafficking, illegal mining, and poaching amongst others, Buhari commended the various efforts and activities of the Accra Initiative against terrorists and criminal elements.
President Buhari also promised to take note of the Communique of the 5th Extraordinary Session of Ministers in Charge of Security and Defence of the Accra Initiative.
Recall that in 2020, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on security and intelligence cooperation among member countries of the Accra Initiative. Between 2018 and 2022, the Initiative carried out four joint military operations, known as Operation Koudanlgou.
In a 19-point communique issued at the end of the summit, the initiative expressed deep concern over the dramatic expansion of terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime and their transhuman consequences in member countries and reaffirmed commitment towards mobilising “necessary indigenous resources” in the operationalisation of the Multinational Joint Task Force of the Accra Initiative (MNJTF/AI), which will conduct the next phase of its military action themed Operation Enhanced Koudanlgou.
The communique also took note of the will of the Nigerian government to designate representatives to the MNJTF/AI Headquarters in Tamale, Ghana.
