In response to the escalating threat of terrorism in West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced the formation of a standby force to provide support to countries grappling with terrorist activities.
The regional economic bloc expressed deep concerns over the worsening terrorism situation in the Sahel region and unveiled plans to raise $2.4 billion for the establishment of this force.
Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, the ECOWAS Commissioner in charge of Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, made the announcement during a gathering in Abuja. Musah highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that Burkina Faso has now surpassed Afghanistan as the most-terrorized state globally, with Africa becoming a hub for terrorist organisations.
Musah underscored the need for collective action, emphasising that terrorist threats in one country could easily spill over into neighbouring nations, citing recent incidents in coastal countries like Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire. While acknowledging Nigeria’s success in degrading Boko Haram, he stressed the importance of regional cooperation to address the broader terrorism challenge.
The standby force will draw resources from designated training centres of excellence across the region, including Nigeria’s National Defence College, Ghana’s Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, and Mali’s Ecole de Maintien de la Paix Alioune Blondin Beye. However, Mali’s absence from the recent meeting raised questions, especially considering its recent decision to withdraw from the ECOWAS community, along with Niger and Burkina Faso.
Musah outlined the operational framework for the standby force, which will function as an advance and rapid reaction force capable of confronting terrorist bases. To fund this initiative, ECOWAS Heads of State have committed to raising $2.4 billion, with member states expected to contribute $1 billion in the first year. Further discussions among defence and finance ministers will determine funding modalities and operational details for the force.
Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu, Commandant of Nigeria’s National Defence College, emphasised the significance of the region’s training centres in bolstering counter-terrorism efforts. He urged participants to leverage these centres to exchange ideas and enhance the effectiveness of the counter-terrorism campaign across West Africa.
