ECOWAS seeks $2.4bn for standby counter-terrorism force

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says it plans to raise $2.4 billion to establish a standby counter-terrorism force.

Abdel-Fatau Musah, the bloc’s commissioner in charge of political affairs, peace, and security, spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at a three-day meeting of the ECOWAS training centres of excellence.

The three centres of excellence are the National Defence College, Nigeria; Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Ghana; and Ecole de Maintien de la Paix Alioune Blondin Beye, Mali.

During the African high-level counter-terrorism meeting last month, President Bola Tinubu called for the establishment of a regional standby force to tackle terrorism on the continent.

Tinubu said the standby force could serve as a rapid deployment mechanism, capable of swiftly responding to what he called an imported evil.

Speaking on the proposal, Musah said the bloc has resolved to establish the standby force.

“This is the decision, and in the coming weeks, ECOWAS has already with the Chief of Defence Staffs, developed operational modalities, the concept of operations and everything for us to aggregate,” the commissioner said.

“It will be something like an advance rapid reaction force of a battalion that will be able to confront terrorists’ bases.”

He explained that as part of the resolution of the authority of heads of states, $2.4 billion will be raised to fund the ECOWAS standby force.

“The Heads of States have decided that on the first year, we must raise about 2.4 billion dollars to support the operation of this force in order to face the terrorists,” he added.

Musah said the resolution mandated that member states contribute one billion dollars to commence the operation of the force, adding that ministers of defence and finance from the sub-region will meet to fashion out funding modalities.

The commissioner also praised Nigeria’s efforts in degrading terrorist sect Boko Haram “to the extent that they do not pose a sustainable threat to the peace and security of Nigeria”.

Mali, which had announced its exit from ECOWAS, was absent at the meeting.