West Africa’s Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is exploring the establishment of a robust 5,000-strong security force requiring up to $2.6 billion annually to combat terrorism, as discussed during a meeting of defence officials on Thursday.
Defence and finance ministers convened in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, to deliberate on the size and funding requirements for the proposed force amid ongoing political turmoil and security challenges across the region.
In recent years, countries like Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, which have been rocked by military coups, have faced increasing instability exacerbated by Islamist militant activities. This has prompted shifts in defence strategies, including the withdrawal from previous security agreements with international forces and engagements with new allies like Russia.
Nigerian Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar presented two funding options for the regional force: one costing $2.6 billion annually to deploy 5,000 troops and another requiring $481 million for a contingent of 1,500 soldiers.
“The gravity of these figures underscores the urgency of our task,” remarked Abubakar. “It is imperative that we carefully assess these options given the challenges confronting our region and the financial constraints of our member states.”
Emphasizing that the force’s primary mandate would be counterterrorism rather than intervention in domestic political matters, Abubakar stressed the importance of each member state contributing their allocated share.
ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray affirmed that even member states under suspension from the bloc would be encouraged to participate in discussions related to regional security.
“It is essential that all 15 member states are involved in tackling terrorism collectively,” Touray stated. “Even those under suspension should be included in security deliberations to ensure comprehensive regional cooperation.”
The discussions highlight ECOWAS’s proactive approach to regional security amid escalating threats, aiming to foster unified efforts against terrorism while navigating complex geopolitical dynamics.
