In response to security threats in West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is taking steps to establish a counter-terrorism force.
During a three-day consultative meeting of the commandants of the designated ECOWAS Training Centres of Excellence, ECOWAS’ Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Amb. Abdel-Fatau Musah announced this initiative.
The three centres of excellence involved in this effort are the National Defence College in Nigeria, the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Ghana, and Ecole de Maintien de la Paix Alioune Blondin Beye in Mali.
This consultative engagement, as reported by NewsNow, is a bi-annual event aimed at supporting the training, capacity building, research, and development of the ECOWAS Standby Force to enhance peace and security in the region.
Musah emphasized the need for counter-terrorism forces to combat the escalating terrorism in the region. He mentioned the development of operational modalities, the concept of operations, and other preparations for an advanced rapid reaction force to confront terrorist threats.
As part of the heads of state’s decision, $2.4 billion will be mobilized to fund the ECOWAS standby force to effectively address security challenges. The heads of state have directed member states to contribute one billion dollars in the first year to launch the force’s operations.
Musah also mentioned that defense and finance ministers from the region would convene to devise funding mechanisms for the force.