What You Need to Know
West African military leaders met in Freetown, Sierra Leone, to discuss the deployment of a 2,000-strong force by 2026 to combat terrorism. The meeting emphasized the need for close coordination between ECOWAS and the Sahel Alliance to ensure regional security amid rising threats, particularly from coastal nations.
Africa-Press. West African military leaders confirmed during a meeting on Thursday in Freetown, Sierra Leone, the importance of close coordination between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Sahel Alliance as part of their plans to activate a reserve force under ECOWAS.
The discussions, chaired by Sierra Leone’s President and ECOWAS Chair Julius Maada Bio, focused on mobilizing 2,000 troops by the end of 2026 to combat terrorism, including threats facing coastal nations.
Participants emphasized the “necessity of close coordination between the two organizations to ensure regional security,” despite the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from ECOWAS to form the Economic Alliance of West African States.
Member states are expected to determine their contributions of troops, focusing on self-funding and utilizing internal resources before seeking external support.
This move to activate ECOWAS’s rapid intervention force comes amid a rise in attacks in West Africa.
According to the Global Terrorism Index, more than half of the terrorism-related deaths worldwide in 2024 occurred in this region, highlighting the need for a swift and coordinated response.
The security situation in West Africa has deteriorated in recent years due to increasing terrorist activities, particularly in the Sahel region. Countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have faced significant challenges, prompting regional organizations like ECOWAS to enhance military cooperation and response strategies to address these threats effectively.
The establishment of a rapid intervention force by ECOWAS reflects a growing recognition of the need for collective security measures. With over half of the global terrorism-related deaths occurring in this region in 2024, the urgency for a coordinated military response has never been more critical, as nations strive to stabilize the
