The 43rd Ordinary Meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Committee of the Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDS) has commenced in Abuja, Nigeria.
The high-level gathering is focused on addressing the rising threat of terrorism in West Africa and evaluating the security implications following the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the regional bloc.
The ongoing meeting, bringing together military chiefs from ECOWAS member states, includes an in-depth review of security strategies, operational logistics, and regional defense coordination.
Key discussions revolve around implementing recommendations from the 42nd CCDS meeting, assessing outcomes from the recent ECOWAS Joint Chiefs of Staff summit in Cabo Verde, and addressing the rotational framework of the ECOWAS Standby Force.
The agenda includes several crucial items, such as analyzing the security vacuum created by the departure of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, reassessing commitments to the Anti-Terrorist Brigade, and evaluating the status of ECOWAS peacekeeping missions in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. Additionally, participants are deliberating on logistical enhancements for the ECOWAS Standby Force, including operational protocols for the regional logistics depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone.
At the opening ceremony, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, H.E. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in strengthening defense mechanisms against escalating security threats. He urged member states to foster collaboration, leverage shared expertise, and pool resources to combat terrorism and transnational crimes plaguing West Africa.
“As stakeholders in the subregion, we must identify and suitably adjust to the changing order of the global landscape with the emerging threats of terrorism, organized crime, climate change, cybercrime, and be able to respond within our national boundaries.”
H.E. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar
Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the proliferation of armed terrorist groups (TAGs) and violent extremist organizations (VEGs), which continue to destabilize the region.
He also stressed the need for a restructured defense architecture to reflect the shifting political landscape following the exit of the three Sahel nations from ECOWAS.
“We will soon have the meeting of the Ministers of Finance, followed by the Ministers of Defence, to decide on the modality for funding. As it stands today, we need to rely on ourselves first before appealing to others for support. That is one key outcome we expect from this meeting.”
Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah
General Christopher Musa, Chief of Staff of the Nigerian Armed Forces and chair of the ECOWAS Chiefs of Staff Committee, reaffirmed the military’s dedication to ensuring security and upholding democratic governance. He noted that terrorism and organized crime remain major threats requiring collective regional efforts to contain.
General Christopher Musa stated that collaboration is paramount and imperative to address both the root causes and symptoms of insecurity in the West African subregion.
According to him, “It is on this premise that the agenda for this meeting was carefully crafted to focus on critical areas while building on our previous engagements.”
ECOWAS Strengthens Military Training Capabilities
As part of its commitment to bolstering military preparedness, ECOWAS officially donated a substantial consignment of IT equipment to Nigeria’s National Defence College.
Established in 1992, the institution serves as the apex training center for senior military officers in Nigeria and is recognized as a Center of Excellence for peace support operations across West Africa.
The meeting is being attended by ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff, their respective Chiefs of Operations, Brigadier General Mactar Diop — Chief of Staff of the ECOWAS Standby Force — Dr. Cyriaque Agnekethom, ECOWAS Director of Peacekeeping and Regional Security, and other key security experts from the ECOWAS Political Affairs, Peace, and Security Department.
With the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger presenting new challenges, ECOWAS faces a pivotal moment in ensuring regional stability. The outcome of this meeting is expected to shape the future of West African defense coordination amid rising security threats.
