Did You Know? - West African Leaders Endorse Veil Ban

West African leaders have endorsed the banning of "all clothings that prevents the clear identification of persons".

A statement on Thursday evening by the Ecowas Authority of Heads of State and Government (HOSG) summit in Nigeria did not, however, directly name the kind of dress.

But it was a clear allusion to the Islamic full veil mostly worn by Muslim women and who are increasingly being used as suicide bombers.

The decision was taken to apparently fight against terrorism.

"The West African countries will be taking into account their own situation and their cultural environment," the statement further said.

Chad has formally banned the dress while Guinea and Senegal were working to officially ban it.

The decision by the West Africa leaders stems from a recommendation by President Alpha Condé of Guinea to his Senegalese counterpart and Ecowas chairman Macky Sall.

Source: The East African