The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced plans to deploy 1,650 personnel from its Standby Force (ESF) in 2026 as part of a new sub-regional counterterrorism strategy.
The decision follows an agreement by ECOWAS Ministers of Finance and Defence on funding modalities during a meeting in Abuja.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day session with the National Defence College (Nigeria) and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (Ghana), ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, H.E. Abdel-Fatau Musah, said the personnel will form part of a 5,000-strong ESF Brigade, which also doubles as the West African Brigade of the African Standby Force.
“This Rapid Deployment Force will provide critical support to Member States in their fight against terrorism,” Ambassador Musah stressed.
He noted that terrorism and violent extremism are spreading beyond the Sahel into coastal states, citing Mali as an example where insurgent activity has shifted southwards toward central and western borders.
Training and Operational Readiness
The two Training Centres of Excellence (TCEs) will continue to provide capacity-building, including Staff Officers Courses and Protection of Civilians programmes, ensuring operational readiness of the deployed forces.
Deputy Commandant of KAIPTC, Brigadier General Ziblim Bawa Ayorrogo, underscored the need for collaboration and innovation, saying:
“The TCEs carry a collective responsibility to remain responsive and aligned with ECOWAS’s peace and security mandate.”
A Critical Moment for West Africa
Ghana’s Representative of the ECOWAS President, Ambassador Muhammed Gana, highlighted that the deployment comes at a time when insecurity in the Sahel is increasingly spilling into coastal West Africa. He called for renewed political will to tackle root causes of instability and build proactive crisis management systems.
Other dignitaries present included Air Vice-Marshal Ayodele Ibrahim Hanidu (National Defence College, Nigeria), Dr. Cyriaque Agnekethom (ECOWAS Director of Peacekeeping and Regional Security), and senior ECOWAS security officials.
