The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced an ambitious plan to deploy a 260,000-member counter-terrorism brigade with an annual $2.5 billion budget to strengthen regional security.
The announcement was made by ECOWAS Commission President, Dr. Omar Touray, during the inaugural African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja on Monday. Touray, represented by Ambassador Abdel-Fattah Musah, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, described the initiative as a necessary response to the region’s growing security challenges.
“Given the asymmetric security threats in our region, this bold initiative has become unavoidable,” Touray stated.
He explained that ECOWAS is committed to providing frontline states with logistics and financial support. To finalize details, Defence and Finance Ministers will meet on Friday in Abuja to agree on the funding structure.
“We are fully aware of the enormous resources this demands, and we urge bilateral and multilateral partners to back this critical regional effort,” Touray said.
The new force will work within the African Union’s standby force framework, aligning with the broader African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA).
Touray stressed the urgency of the plan, pointing out that the Sahel has become the epicenter of global terrorism, accounting for 51% of worldwide terrorism-related deaths in 2024.
He also highlighted the devastating impact on civilians:
Communities face forced taxation and coercion by extremist groups.
Illegal mining and war economies fuel insecurity.
Women and children remain the most vulnerable victims of displacement and violence.
Touray further urged stronger support from the African Union and the United Nations, citing UN Security Council Resolution 2719 (December 2023), which pledges to fund 75% of African-led peace support operations.
The Abuja summit brought together African defence chiefs, regional leaders, and international partners, all committed to building stronger collaborative frameworks to address Africa’s most pressing security threats.
