The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) defense chiefs gathered in Abuja on Thursday to discuss the proposed $2.6 billion budget for the subregion Standby Force’s activation. With the region planning to deploy a 5,000-strong “Standby Force” to combat the region’s worsening security crises, the Standby Force is intended to contain terrorism and unconstitutional change of government. However, analysts warn that this measure may not work because of funding issues and divisions within the regional bloc. The arrangement, which will cost $2.6 billion yearly, was likewise pointed toward forestalling further overthrows following a line of military takeovers undermining the locale, Nigeria’s Safeguard Clergyman, Mohammed Badaru, said during the gathering. Coups returnin
The 15-nation Economic Community of West and Central African States (ECOWAS) has been divided by the resurgence of coups in West and Central Africa, with four of its nations currently ruled by military governments. This has destabilized the region, particularly the coup-affected nations of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which have been most severely affected by the deadly violence that is now spreading to coastal nations. Thursday’s gathering is whenever the alliance first is outlining freely the supporting of its for some time discussed reserve force. However, analysts identified potential obstacles, such as securing the support of coup-hit nations most affected by the security crises and a lack of funds from member states required to contribute. The threat to “take all measures necessary (that) may include the use of force”) if ousted Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum is not reinstated within a week was made abundantly clear when the 15-nation bloc called its defense chiefs to discuss it. armed forces
ECOWAS is resolved to use military force after economic and travel sanctions used against the coup plotters failed, according to a Western diplomat in Niamey who did not want to be identified for security reasons.
How the bloc would carry out its threat remains unclear given its lack of coordination in providing security regionally and formally with the US State Department in Niger, said Aneliese Bernard, director of Strategic Stabilization Advisors.
“More than ever, we are at a pivotal moment in the history of our community to address insecurity,” said Omar Alieu Touray, president of the regional bloc of ECOWAS Commission, as he urged member-states to support the force. Their proposals are expected to be considered at the upcoming summit of the regional heads of state.
ECOWAS has unsuccessfully tried to return democracies in these countries. Their best shot with now-lifted economic sanctions which resulted in the three coup-hit countries withdrawing their membership and opening more windows for Russian mercenaries in the region.
Insecurity
The West African sub-region is threatened by insecurity and grave humanitarian challenges. Terrorism and violent extremism have continued to threaten its collective existence. The cross-border free movement and activities of terrorist groups in the sub-region are also deepening its internal security challenges.
To address these challenges, the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government at its 62nd Ordinary Session held in Abuja, on December 4, 2022, instructed the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff to urgently study and propose the options, modalities, financial and technical means for the urgent operationalisation of the ECOWAS Standby Force, including a special kinetic operations to combat terrorism.
“As part of the implementation of these decisions, the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff met twice to deliberate and come up with recommendations, which was subsequently presented to the 50th meeting of the Mediation and Security Council at the ministerial level on July 5, 2023, in Bissau.
ECOWAS Commission
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alliou Touray, said the move became necessary as the region had become the epicentre of terrorism.
“Our gathering here today is driven by the urgent need to consider the financing options in the memorandum to be presented by the ECOWAS Commission for deploying the proposed regional force. The financial implications of these proposals are significant.
“The overall estimated cost is $2,606,695,640 per year for a brigade of 5,000 men. The alternative proposal is for a brigade of 1,650 men, with an estimated annual cost of $481,459,335. These figures underscore the gravity of the task before us and the necessity of a robust and sustainable resource mobilisation strategy.
Touray decried the damages caused to the region by terrorism, which include the large scale of Internally Displaced Persons, loss of territories and a quarter of all deaths from terrorist attacks occurring globally were in Burkina Faso, while Mali is ranked number three most impacted country.
Transborder menace
“Taking due consideration of the transborder nature of the menace and the need to address it collectively and in line with the directive by the Authority on Peace and Security Matters, I would like to inform this August body that the invitation to this meeting was extended to all the 15 ECOWAS member states”.
“That is why we have invited all 15 member states to attend this crucial meeting. Honourable Ministers, we have an urgent task to mobilise the financial resources to fund our Regional Action Plan against terrorism.
The Commission will present the second document, which is a memorandum proposing modalities for the mobilisation of internal, financial, human, and material resources on a mandatory basis to support the deployment, and the development of the regional counterterrorism force as defined by the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff.
