ECOWAS activates 5,000-strong standby force

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has activated its Standby Force to combat terrorism and other transborder crimes in the sub-region.

The announcement was made by Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, during the 43rd ordinary meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of the Chiefs of Defence in Abuja on Tuesday.

The meeting was attended by Chiefs of Defence Staff from ECOWAS member countries, excluding Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which recently withdrew from the sub-regional body.

Also present were the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah; Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Naval Staff, Emmanuel Ogalla; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Emmanuel Undiandeye; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and members of the diplomatic community.

Badaru emphasized that the meeting highlighted the shared commitment of member states to addressing the critical security challenges facing the sub-region.

He urged the West African Chiefs of Defence Staff to unite in breaking the cycle of terrorism and armed violence plaguing the region.

“By leveraging our collective expertise, resources, and commitment, we can make a tangible impact on fostering peace, stability, and prosperity in the sub-region,” Badaru stated.

“In this regard, I am pleased to announce the activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force to combat terrorism in the sub-region. This activation underscores our collective determination to confront the threat of terrorism and ensure the security of the sub-region.”

He added that economic growth and development are fundamental to achieving sustainable peace and security in the region.

Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, reiterated the organization’s commitment to maintaining the free movement of persons and goods despite the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

“On January 29, 2025, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger formally withdrew their memberships from ECOWAS. Following the directives of the Authority of Heads of State and Government at the last Summit in December 2024, the ECOWAS Commission has initiated a contingency plan to mitigate the unforeseen consequences of their withdrawal,” Musah explained.

He stressed that ECOWAS remains open to welcoming back the three nations and emphasized the importance of ensuring that ordinary citizens do not suffer due to the political decisions of their governments.

“ECOWAS must maintain the free movement of people and goods, as well as the rights of settlement and establishment for all citizens of our community, including those from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. We are building a united community and do not want the ordinary citizens of our member states to suffer,” Musah said.

Musah also noted that pledges made by member states are being reconfigured to comply with the directive to activate the Standby Force in kinetic mode.

Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun commended the ECOWAS defence forces for their critical role in stabilizing the region.

“Our collective efforts to enhance regional security, counter transnational threats, and promote defence cooperation will undoubtedly yield positive outcomes for our nations and our people,” Egbetokun said.

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