ECOWAS Chiefs of Staff Meet to devise New Strategy, Strengthen the fight against Terrorism.
By Raymond Enoch
The 43rd Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDS) commenced on March 11, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria, bringing together military leaders from across West Africa to address pressing regional security concerns, with a primary focus on combating the growing threat of terrorism and violent extremism.
The three-day meeting, continues until March 13th, marks a critical juncture in the collective defense strategy for the region, which has seen escalating attacks by armed terrorist groups (TAGs) and violent extremist groups (VEGs).
Prominent figures, including H.E. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, and Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, delivered keynote speeches emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced cooperation and shared resources to bolster West Africa’s defense capabilities. Minister Abubakar stressed the importance of regional collaboration, urging nations to unite their efforts and expertise to address the increasing instability driven by terrorism.
Ambassador Musah highlighted the broader security challenges facing the region, underscoring that West Africa’s political landscape has been deeply affected by the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS. This withdrawal has created additional challenges in managing the collective defense mechanisms in the region, making the role of ECOWAS even more crucial in stabilizing West Africa.
One of the central discussions at the meeting revolves around the strengthening of the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) and the logistics framework supporting regional peacekeeping operations. The committee is reviewing the progress made in the establishment of the ECOWAS logistics depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone, which will play a pivotal role in the rapid deployment of peacekeeping forces across the region.
The meeting also includes a review of the implementation of decisions from previous gatherings, such as the recommendations from the 42nd Ordinary Meeting held in August 2024. Key updates on the ECOWAS missions in Guinea-Bissau and The Gambia are also on the agenda, as these countries continue to rely on regional support to maintain stability.
With a growing concern over the increasing activities of transnational organized crime (TOC) alongside terrorism, the meeting will assess the readiness of the ECOWAS Standby Force to respond to security threats, particularly in the Sahel region. The security situation in the Sahel has become one of the focal points for the committee, as the rise of extremist violence threatens to destabilize more countries in the region.
Additionally, the meeting will discuss the rotation of officers within the ECOWAS Standby Force and review the commitments made to the Anti-Terrorist Brigade, a crucial initiative designed to curb the spread of terrorism and extremism.
On the sidelines of the meeting, ECOWAS officially donated a significant consignment of IT equipment to Nigeria’s National Defence College, further solidifying the partnership between ECOWAS and its member states in addressing regional security challenges.
General Christopher Musa, Chief of Staff of the Nigerian Armed Forces and chair of the ECOWAS Chiefs of Staff Committee, reaffirmed the commitment of the armed forces to ensuring the security and democratic stability of the region. As regional security concerns continue to evolve, the outcomes of this meeting will be pivotal in shaping West Africa’s defense architecture for years to come.
With a focus on collaboration, shared expertise, and strategic resource pooling, the ECOWAS Chiefs of Staff are committed to working together to safeguard the future of the West African region against the rising threats of terrorism and organized crime.
