West Africa unites against terrorism after Grand Bassam attack

West Africa has stood by Ivory Coast in the wake of the gruesome militant attack at the resort town of Grand Bassam that left 19 people dead.

Heads of State and high level delegation from neighbouring countries have been conferring with President Alassane Ouattara to commiserate with the people of the country.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia said her country mourns with the people of Ivory Coast and recommended a strategy and comprehensive approach in fighting against terrorism which should be within the context of ECOWAS and the Mano River Union, an intergovernmental institution comprising of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Ivory Coast.

“We are at your side to lead the fight against terrorism,” President Johnson Sirleaf said.

Ivorian presidency tweeted about the joint press conference during her visit.

#prci: Déclaration de la Présidente du Liberia Madame Ellen Johnson SIRLEAF pic.twitter.com/8LNeR3jGrj

— Presidenceci (@Presidenceci) March 17, 2016

Burkina Faso’s Minister of State, Simon Compaore, led a delegation to convey President Roch Marc Kabore’s condolence to the president and people of Ivory Coast. He recalled the support of President Alassane Ouattara during the Splendid Hotel attacks In January and pledged to reciprocate.

“We came to say that the Ivory Coast have the support of the Government of Burkina Faso,” Simon Compaore is tweeted as saying in French.

#prci:” Nous sommes venus affirmer que la Côte d’Ivoire a le soutien du gouvernement du Burkina Faso” M. S. COMPAORE pic.twitter.com/bzvnLdsdXO

— Presidenceci (@Presidenceci) March 17, 2016

President John Mahama of Ghana also sent a delegation led by the Minister of Defence, Benjamin Kunbuor and Interior Minister Prosper Bani. Mr. Kunbour, said president Mahama pledged to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries to deal effectively with the threat of terrorism..

#prci: Le Chef de l'Etat SEM Alassane OUATTARA reçoit une délégation du Ghana pic.twitter.com/Au8Sc9o5ML

— Presidenceci (@Presidenceci) March 17, 2016

Earlier, Mali prime minister Modibo Keita also met with President Ouattara and expressed gratitude for efforts to help Mali resolve its crisis.

“We salute the courage and swift reaction of the Ivorian security forces.” Prime Minister Modibo Keita pic.twitter.com/tWhjfkcWiQ

— Presidenceci (@Presidenceci) March 16, 2016

ECOWAS condemned Sunday’s terrorist attacks ‘in the strongest terms’ and assured the people and Ivorian Government of the regional body’s ‘full solidarity’ in a statement.