The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has activated its standby force to combat terrorism in the sub-region.

The regional body had in October last year, hinted at the establishment of a 5,000-man kinetic force to tackle terrorism in the region.

Speaking at the 43rd ordinary meeting of ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff in Abuja yesterday, Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, said the activation of the force underscored the collective determination of member countries to confront the threat of terrorism.

He said: “Central to our discussions in the coming days are pressing issues concerning the ECOWAS Standby Force, ECOWAS peace support operations, as well as maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. ‘’I am confident that our deliberations will be marked by a spirit of collaboration, innovation and determination as we work toward drafting a comprehensive strategy to address the security challenges in the sub-region.

By leveraging our collective expertise, resources, and commitment, we can make a tangible impact on fostering peace, stability, and prosperity in the sub-region.

With regard to security and ensuring the safety of our citizens, let me express my profound gratitude to each of you for your ongoing dedication, professionalism, and commitment to the security and well-being of our people.

Let us approach our deliberations with a sense of purpose, unity, and resolve, knowing that we have the power to shape a more secure and prosperous future for our sub-region.

Some of the critical areas under discussion include the proposed review of pledges for the ECOWAS Standby Force, consideration of pledges for the ECOWAS Standby Force Counter Terrorist Brigade, and the rotation of staff officers of Peace Support Operations Divisions and the ECOWAS Standby Force, as well as maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.

Others include the presentation of the outcome of the governmental experts meeting on the ECOWAS logistics concept and the standing operating procedures for ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi.

Globalpose…