Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ouagadougou (Agenzia Fides) - The fight against terrorism will be the focus of the Special Session of the Economic Community of West African States (CEDEAO/ECOWS), announced by the President of Benin, Boni Yayi, in the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, where in the attack on 15 January against Splendid hotel and the nearby coffee bar Le Cappuccino, 29 people died.
"After the attack in the capital of Mali, Bamako in November, which caused the death of twenty people, and now that of Ouagadougou, the States in the region have become aware of the need to act", said the President of Benin, stressing that "there is a correlation between security and development". The attacks in the two capitals targeted the hotel frequented by foreigners, many of whom work for humanitarian and development organizations, and entrepreneurs willing to invest in the countries affected.
The President of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, in strongly condemning the attacks, has lauched an appeal to national cohesion and called on the States of the region to pool defense capabilities in response to the challenge of terrorists. The President of Mali, Modibo Keita, has called for the creation of a rapid reaction unit to fight terrorism, on behalf of the countries of the "G5 Sahel": Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 19/01/2016)
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