ECOWAS activates standby counter-terrorism force
The decision by United States President, Donald Trump, to cut international aid funding will affect Nigeria in various ways. One is in the fight against terror groups operating in the country and across the Sahel region of West Africa.
This was as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) activated its standby force to tackle terrorism in the region.
On the possible consequences of the U.S. funding cuts, Associate Professor of Security Governance, Chukwuma Okoli, explained that over the years, the U.S. had granted hundreds of millions of dollars as security aid to Nigeria, as part of a broader partnership to promote regional security and stability, asserting that stopping it could undermine Nigeria’s capacity to counter the activities of terrorist groups.
“Terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, Ansaru and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have been very active in northern Nigeria, where they wield competitive territorial control in some rural communities of the North-West and North-East regions.
“The U.S. had supported the Nigerian military with training, equipment, logistics and intelligence,” the security scholar said, adding that the aid freeze could equally affect humanitarian assistance to populations affected by terrorism in Nigeria.
According to the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (UNOCHA), no fewer than 7.9 million were in need of humanitarian assistance in Nigeria by 2024.
SPEAKING at the 43rd ordinary meeting of ECOWAS committee chiefs of defence staff in Abuja, yesterday, Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru charged his counterparts in the region to take advantage of the resolution and mobilise against threats and terrorism.
The minister noted that discussions would revolve around the standby force, ECOWAS peace support operation and the maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
He said: “In this regard, I am pleased to announce the activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force to combat terrorism in the sub region. The activation of this force underscores our collective determination to confront the stretch of terrorism with regards to the security of the sub region and to ensure the safety and security of our citizens.”
“Before I take my seat, let me express my profound gratitude to each of you for the ongoing dedication, professionalism and commitment to the security and well-being of our people.”
The announcement came as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger formally withdrew from the bloc, complicating the region’s security architecture.
ECOWAS Commissioner, Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, urged the gathering to critically examine the implications of the trio’s withdrawal on regional security in the course of deliberations.
After the 2023 coup in Niger Republic, ECOWAS Chairman, President Bola Tinubu, threatened to deploy the bloc’s standby force to restore democracy.
However, mediators advised against it, calling for diplomacy instead.
Similarly, West African military Chiefs reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional security cooperation in the region.
The reaffirmation was made when they converged on Abuja, yesterday, for the 43rd Ordinary Meeting of ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff.
The summit focused on pressing security challenges, including terrorism, organised crime, and maritime threats, with emphasis on enhancing cross-border collaboration and operational coordination.
In his opening address, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Christopher Musa, underscored the importance of collective action in securing the region.
Musa stressed that addressing insecurity in the region required not just military intervention but also tackling the root of instability, such as political unrest, economic hardship and weak governance
The Guardian
