ECOWAS eyes $2.6bn for standby force to combat terrorism across West Africa

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is seeking $2.61 billion annually to launch a 5,000-strong regional Standby Force aimed at combating terrorism,political instability,and transnational crime across the region.

At a high-level meeting in Abuja,ECOWAS Ministers of Defense and Finance convened to finalize funding strategies for the ambitious counterterrorism initiative. A scaled-down initial deployment of 1,650 troops will cost $481.5 million,with full deployment targeted in subsequent phases. “The emergence of terrorist group activities within and around West Africa has become a matter of serious concern to governments and citizens of the region,” warned ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray. He emphasized that terrorism is now a primary threat,especially in the Sahel,where weak governance and prolonged conflict have fueled a dramatic surge in violence.

According to the Global Terrorism Index,the Sahel accounted for 51% of global terrorism deaths in 2024,with threats now extending to once-stable coastal states like Benin and Côte d’Ivoire. Nigeria’s Defense Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar described the meeting as a critical step toward safeguarding sovereignty and democratic stability. Financing options under consideration include increasing the ECOWAS Community Levy,GDP-based contributions,direct budget allocations,and public-private partnerships. Sierra Leone’s Deputy Defense Minister Brima Massaquoi added that strong leadership,regional coordination,and investment in intelligence and training are essential. “This moment must be viewed not just as another meeting,but as a mandate to act decisively,” stressed Nigeria’s Defense Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar.