The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has sanctioned the deployment of a 1,200-member peacekeeping force to Sierra Leone, a decision made during a significant meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDS) held in Abuja, Nigeria.
The 42nd Ordinary meeting, led by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, concentrated on assessing the readiness of armed and security forces under the ECOWAS umbrella.
Key areas of focus included evaluating the
operational capabilities, personnel, and logistics essential for an effective
deployment.
This
peacekeeping force is part of the broader operationalization of the ECOWAS
Standby Force (ESF), specifically under the ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Force
(CTForce).
During
the meeting, the CCDS also examined the progress of the ECOWAS Logistics Depot
in Lungi, Sierra Leone, which is reportedly more than 90 percent complete.
Efforts to transfer logistical equipment to this facility are actively
underway.
In
addition to the Sierra Leone mission, the defense chiefs reaffirmed their
commitment to establishing a 5,000-member standby force designed to combat
terrorism throughout the region. This initiative will be led initially by a
1,650-member counter-terrorism brigade, serving as the vanguard in this
regional security effort.
The
deployment of these forces requires substantial financial resources, a topic
that ECOWAS finance ministers are expected to address in their upcoming meeting
later this month, where they will finalize the funding strategies.
The
Defense Chiefs underscored the importance of a united and collective approach
to regional stability and democratic governance, recognizing the challenges
ahead and the need for coordinated efforts to tackle them effectively.