Defence chiefs from Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) converged on Abuja to deliberate on a proposed $2.607 billion budget for the activation of a regional standby force.
This force aims to address terrorism and unconstitutional changes of government, with plans to establish a 5,000-strong unit.
Alternatively, a budget of $481.46 million for a 1,650-member force was also proposed, with the meeting organized to decide on the most feasible plan.
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, announced these details at the meeting’s opening, which focused on the financing and equipping of the ECOWAS counter-terrorism force. Abubakar emphasized the urgent need for a robust and sustainable resource mobilization strategy to support the proposed force.
ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray highlighted the necessity of this move, noting the region’s increasing status as a terrorism epicenter. He stressed the significant humanitarian impact, including large numbers of internally displaced persons and loss of territories to terrorist groups.
Touray cited the 2024 Global Terrorism Index, which reports that the Sahel region now accounts for over half of all terrorism-related deaths and 26% of attacks globally. Countries like Burkina Faso and Mali are among the most affected, with fatalities increasing significantly.
The urgency of the meeting was underscored by the need to mobilize financial resources to support the Regional Action Plan against terrorism. The ECOWAS Commission has prepared detailed proposals outlining the logistics, personnel, and financial requirements for the standby force.
All 15 ECOWAS member states were invited to participate in this crucial meeting, reflecting the collective commitment to addressing regional security challenges. The outcome of these deliberations will determine the path forward for establishing a more secure environment conducive to economic growth and development in West Africa.
