Keypoints:
- ECOWAS targets 2,000 troops by 2026
- Coordination with AES despite political split
- Rising attacks drive regional military response
REGIONAL military leaders in West Africa have renewed calls for closer operational cooperation between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), signalling a pragmatic shift toward collective security despite ongoing political tensions across the region.
The commitment followed high-level security talks held Thursday in Freetown, Sierra Leone, chaired by President Julius Maada Bio in his capacity as ECOWAS chairperson. Defence chiefs and senior officials gathered to accelerate plans for deploying a multinational force aimed at countering escalating extremist violence threatening both Sahelian and coastal states.
Officials stressed that coordination between ECOWAS and the AES — formed by Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger after their withdrawal from ECOWAS — remains essential to stabilising a region increasingly viewed as the global epicentre of terrorism.
Regional force to mobilise 2,000 troops
At the centre of discussions was a proposal to mobilise an initial contingent of 2,000 troops under the ECOWAS Standby Force framework by the end of 2026. The force is intended to provide rapid-response capability against militant groups operating across porous borders linking the Sahel to coastal West Africa.
Member states are expected to outline troop contributions in the coming months, with governments encouraged to take primary responsibility for financing deployments.
Participants emphasised the importance of self-financing mechanisms, urging countries to rely first on internal and regional resources before seeking external support. Officials said the approach would strengthen regional ownership of counterterrorism operations and reduce reliance on foreign military partnerships.
The discussions were reported by regional officials following the Freetown meeting.
Cooperation despite ECOWAS–AES political rift
The talks underscored a cautious but notable effort to maintain security cooperation despite strained relations between ECOWAS and the AES bloc.
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger formally withdrew from ECOWAS after a series of military coups and disagreements over sanctions and governance standards, creating uncertainty about future regional collaboration.
However, military leaders acknowledged that extremist threats transcend political boundaries, making coordination unavoidable.
Delegates warned that fragmented security responses could allow militant groups to exploit gaps between neighbouring states, accelerating the spread of violence toward previously stable coastal countries.
Participants stressed ‘the need for close coordination between the two organisations to ensure regional security’, reflecting growing consensus that operational cooperation must continue even amid diplomatic differences.
Escalating violence drives urgency
The renewed push to operationalise the ECOWAS Standby Force comes as violence intensifies across West Africa and the central Sahel.
According to the Global Terrorism Index, more than half of global terrorism-related deaths in 2024 occurred in the region, highlighting the scale of the security crisis confronting regional governments.
Militant groups affiliated with Islamic State and al-Qaeda have expanded attacks across Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, while violence has increasingly spread into northern Benin, Togo and parts of Nigeria, raising concerns about broader regional destabilisation.
Security analysts say coordinated intelligence-sharing, joint operations and sustained funding will be essential if regional governments hope to contain the evolving threat landscape.
Next steps for implementation
ECOWAS officials indicated that technical planning will continue in the months ahead, including defining command structures, logistics arrangements and deployment timelines for the proposed force.
Further consultations involving defence ministers and chiefs of staff are expected as member states finalise operational commitments and funding strategies.
While political divisions remain unresolved, the outcome of the Freetown talks suggests growing recognition among regional military leaders that cooperation — even across rival blocs — may be the most practical path toward restoring stability in West Africa.
