The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has activated its Standby Force to tackle terrorism and cross-border crimes in the region.
Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, announced the move on Tuesday, March 12, during the 43rd Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff in Abuja.
The gathering included military leaders from ECOWAS nations, except Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which recently withdrew from the regional bloc.
Among those present were ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Dr Abdel-Fatau Musah, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and other top military officials and diplomats.
Badaru emphasised the need for regional collaboration to break the cycle of terrorism and violence.
“In this regard, I am pleased to announce the activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force to combat terrorism in the sub-region,” he stated.
“The activation of this force underscores our collective determination to confront the stretch of terrorism with regard to the security of the sub-region. We must as a sub-region therefore recognise that our strife towards economic growth and development will invariably be fundamental to a home-grown sustainable peace and security.”
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He added that ECOWAS must adapt to evolving global threats, including organised crime, cybercrime, climate change, and pandemics.
Dr Musah acknowledged the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger but affirmed ECOWAS’ commitment to maintaining free movement and trade across the region.
“On 29 January 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 now initiated a contingency plan to mitigate the unforeseen consequences of their withdrawal,” Musah said.
He assured that ECOWAS remained open to welcoming the three nations back into the fold and that citizens of the withdrawn countries would continue to enjoy free movement and settlement rights.
“In this regard, ECOWAS Committee of Heads of State has directed that despite the withdrawal, ECOWAS must maintain the free movement of people and goods and the rights of settlement and establishment to all citizens of our community, including those from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger,” he added.
Musah also confirmed that pledges made by member states were being adjusted to align with the decision to activate the Standby Force in a combat-ready mode.
Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, commended ECOWAS’ defence forces for their efforts in stabilising the region.
“Our collective efforts to enhance regional security, counter transnational threats, and promote defence cooperation will no doubt yield possible outcomes for our nation and our people,” he said.