ECOWAS Defense Chiefs propose $2.66b to tackle terrorism

To tackle the protracted insecurity in the West African region, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has proposed annual financing of $2.67 billion for equipping and operationalizing a 5000-strong ECOWAS counter-terrorism force.

The move was disclosed yesterday by Nigerian Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, at the opening of the Defence and Finance Ministers’ meeting of the ECOWAS Member States in Abuja.

The meeting was to discuss the activation of a regional anti-terrorism force as well as address issues bordering on the unconstitutional and undemocratic usurpation of government.

Abubakar added that the committee of ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff also proposed a brigade of 1,650 men at an estimated cost of $481 million as an alternative. According to him, the figures underscored the gravity of the task before the Defence Chiefs and the necessity of a robust and sustainable resource mobilization strategy.

He, however, expressed concern over the prolonged insecurity, terrorism, and violent extremism threatening the safety and development of the region. Consequently, the meeting would serve to deliberate on the modalities for financing the ECOWAS counter-terrorism force and to critically review the available options considering the socio-economic and political challenges confronting member states.

“Our commitment is vital in crafting a sustainable financing model that addresses the immediate security threat and lays the foundation for long-term stability and resilience for our region. Let us, therefore, work together with determination and unity of purpose to achieve our shared goal of a safer and more secure region,” Abubakar said.

Earlier, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, admitted that the meeting was in line with the instructions given to the Commission by the Heads of State and Government during the 64th Ordinary Session held last December.

Touray recalled that the Authority had instructed the Commission to expedite the convening of the meeting of Ministers of Finance and Defence of Member States to agree on the modalities for the mobilization of internal financial, human, and material resources on a mandatory basis to support the deployment of the regional counter-terrorism force.

While noting that some member states have lost control of important parts of their territories to terrorist groups, Touray noted that according to the 2024 Global Terrorism Index, the epicenter of terrorism has shifted from the Middle East and North Africa to the sub-Saharan African region, especially the Sahel Region.

He said: “The Sahel is the most affected region within the Sahara, accounting for over half of all deaths from terrorism and 26 percent of attacks in 2023. Some of our member states have become countries with the highest impact from terrorism for the first time, with fatalities increasing by 68 percent.”

The ECOWAS President further emphasized that all 15 ECOWAS member states have been invited to the meeting where the authorization and the approval given to the Commission’s proposal would be deliberated upon. Noting that although some countries might be under suspension, they should be allowed to take part in the meeting as it related to security in the Sub-Region.

According to him, it would be difficult to achieve success without the involvement of every member state.

“That was the reason the Commission proposed to the Authority through the Council of Ministers that although some countries might be under suspension, they should be allowed to take part in meetings relating to security as well as in sectoral matters,” he said.

Other issues to be deliberated upon include the report of the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff containing their proposal towards the mobilization of the kinetic force to fight terrorism.

This, he said, includes logistics, personnel, and financial requirements of raising the force.