The Chiefs of Defence Staff of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have restated their dedication to regional security. They vowed to improve peacekeeping and counter-terrorism measures across the subregion. The latest pledge came at the conclusion of the 43rd Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS in Abuja. It has been reported that the sub-regional bloc had deployed a 5,000-man standby contingent to fight terrorism in West Africa.
The ECOWAS is a regional economic and political union of twelve nations of West Africa.
Representing the region’s Defence Chiefs, Christopher Musa stated that the three-day session was focused on promoting security cooperation and developing a unified front against threats to regional stability. He also noted that the defence chiefs had recognized some critical vulnerabilities to regional security. They demonstrated their strong resolve towards handling these threats.
Musa said, “As expected, there were areas of concern between members but more importantly there was firm resolve on the need for collective action. “This is the spirit of this gathering, which is firmly rooted in a resolute commitment to meeting our primary obligation as members of the armed and defence forces of our respective countries which is to defend and protect our peoples from harm and insecurities.
“Within the past days, we have deliberated over critical security concerns in the West African sub-region. Some of these areas, include the review of pledges for ECOWAS Standby Force, consideration of pledges for ECOWAS Counter-terrorist Brigade and the rotation of Staff Officers of Peace Support Operation Divisions and ECOWAS Standby Force.
“Others were the presentation on the outcome of the Governmental Experts Meeting on the ECOWAS Logistics Concept and Standing Operating Procedures for ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi.”
He also said the session provided an opportunity to examine the report of the last ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Naval Staff Meeting, and a presentation on Standardization of the Table of Equipment for the ECOWAS Standby Force.
“Our deliberations have been fruitful, productive and would definitely lead to concrete actions that will further strengthen our collective efforts towards achieving a more secure and prosperous Community,” he stated.
Moreover, the military government in Burkina Faso has announced the creation of new rapid response forces, consisting of 14,000 soldiers and thousands of civilian support attendants, to combat jihadist violence. Burkina Faso has been overrun by Islamist attacks in the last 10 years, leaving an calculated 26,000 soldiers and civilians dead.
Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo conveyed to the transitional parliament that the latest battalions brought the total number of army rapid response forces in the nation to 28 and police mobile squads to 13.
“More than 14,000 soldiers of all types and thousands of (civilian defence force volunteers) have been recruited, trained and equipped,”
he also said.
