Spotlight: ISS and partners bridge divisions to guide regional cooperation against terrorism
ISS worked with West African states and regional bodies to develop a unified approach to preventing and combating violent extremism.
Published on 05 August 2026 in
Impact
In an environment of increasing violence and a fracturing of regional alliances, a seminar was convened in December 2025 by the ISS and Conseil de l'Entente, with the support of Togo’s government. Representatives of governments, militaries and civil society, along with researchers, discussed shifting dynamics of violence, reviewed successes and challenges, and developed urgent recommendations for new responses.
Seminar participants included Conseil de l’Entente member states Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger and Togo; delegations from Ghana and Mali; the Lake Chad Basin Commission and its Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF); and the Accra Initiative.
‘Facilitating this dialogue was a notable success for the Conseil de l’Entente and its partner, the ISS, given the climate of mistrust in the sub-region,’ says Idi Ali, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Conseil de l’Entente.
‘A constantly evolving threat that transcends national borders calls for regional cooperation. It was critical that parties with such differing views had an opportunity to talk frankly, identify common interests, and plot a way out of the extremist crisis.’
Terrorism has threatened security and stability in West Africa and the Sahel for more than a decade. Militants challenge state authority, and economies of violence have grown from illicit activities. Extremist groups are tactically innovative, staging ambushes and deploying drones and improvised explosive devices. They increasingly target economic infrastructure, and violence has spread to the northern border regions of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo.
The resulting humanitarian crisis disproportionately affects women and children, with millions needing emergency assistance.
Regional counter-terrorism efforts to date include the G5 Sahel Joint Force created in 2017 by Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, and the Accra Initiative by Burkina Faso, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo. In 2019, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) adopted a Priority Action Plan to Eradicate Terrorism.
ISS’ independence and credibility helped open communication channels between competing states and regional blocs
But political and financial challenges have undermined these initiatives, and national efforts have not matched regional strategies.
A shortage of resources was compounded by tensions among member states following the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Security cooperation was fragmented further with the collapse of the G5 Sahel and the gradual weakening of regional cooperation under the Accra Initiative.
Another challenge facing most regional initiatives is their focus on military solutions. ‘Security responses are not sufficient,’ says Fahiraman Koné, ISS Sahel Project Manager. ‘The seminar we convened with the Conseil de l’Entente and Togo’s government recognised the urgent need for regional cooperation, non-military approaches, and a deep analysis of why violent extremism remains a growing threat.
‘The fracturing of ECOWAS left a lot of political scars and resentment, but the independence, credibility and expertise of the ISS helped open communication channels between competing states and regional blocs.’
The Conseil de l’Entente and ISS used their trusted relationships to identify the right people for talks that emphasised technicalities over politics and developed an agenda that avoided political differences.
Delegates identified challenges such as weak intelligence sharing, unsustainable funding, mistrust between regional states, slow responses to threats, and a proliferation of competing and poorly coordinated initiatives.
They called for a coordinated and inclusive approach, sustainable and predictable funding, and new approaches that combine security, development, governance, social cohesion, border management and community dialogue. They emphasised the need to rebuild trust between states and security actors as a prerequisite for successful regional cooperation.
The Conseil de l’Entente will share these recommendations at the next annual meeting of Ministers responsible for security and borders.
For more information, contact:
Fahiraman Koné, ISS: [email protected]
