Abuja: The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, has disclosed that the regional bloc requires approximately $ 2.61 billion to operationalise its proposed 5,000-strong ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF).
Touray announced during a joint meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Finance and Defence held on Friday in Abuja.
The meeting aimed to finalise the modalities for mobilising funds to activate the regional anti-terrorism force.
He noted that terrorism in any form remained a significant threat to regional integration, prompting ECOWAS leaders to prioritise the creation of a military response force.
“The emergence of terrorist group activities within and around West Africa has become a matter of serious concern to governments and citizens of the region,” Touray said.
He warned that such activities threaten international trade and investment, disrupt regional commerce, and restrict the free movement of people, goods, and services across West African borders.
Citing the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025 report, Touray said Africa has now become the global epicentre of terrorism, displacing the Middle East as the most affected region.
He explained that the Sahel region, in particular, has seen a surge in terrorist operations, driven by political instability, weak governance, and prolonged conflicts.
“In response, ECOWAS has taken a multi-dimensional approach to counter-terrorism, including the development of a comprehensive strategy, establishment of a Standby Force, and regional collaboration on intelligence, training, and humanitarian interventions,” he said.
Touray recalled that at a previous meeting held on June 27, 2024, in Abuja, the ministers had deliberated extensively on activating the standby force to combat both terrorism and unconstitutional changes of government in the region.
He described the creation of the 5,000-man force as a top priority to restore peace and stability wherever they are threatened in the ECOWAS sub-region.
Also speaking, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, emphasised that the region is facing growing threats, including terrorism, violent extremism, transnational crime, and unconstitutional power grabs.
He said the Abuja meeting marked a critical step towards operationalising a regional counter-terrorism force that reflects a collective resolve to defend sovereignty, uphold constitutional order, and protect citizens.
“As we advance with these proposals, it is important to align our strategic objectives with predictable, sustainable, and transparent funding mechanisms,” Abubakar noted.
He listed potential funding options, including adjustments to the Community Levy, recovery of arrears, GDP-based contributions, direct budget allocations, blended financing, and targeted partnerships.
“This moment must be viewed not just as another meeting, but as a mandate to act decisively. The people of ECOWAS are counting on us, not only for protection but for leadership,” he added.
Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Defence, retired Col. Brima Massaquoi, highlighted ECOWAS’s broader role in economic integration, conflict resolution, governance, and human rights.
Despite progress, he said, the region still faces significant challenges, including political instability, recurring conflicts, transnational crimes, humanitarian crises, and terrorism.
Massaquoi emphasised that effective counter-terrorism necessitated strong leadership, coordination, and capacity-building to enhance regional preparedness and response capabilities.
He urged the bloc to adopt inclusive and innovative financing models, including contributions from member states, partnerships with regional financial institutions, and the establishment of specialised regional security funds.
“We must also explore Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and invest in training, intelligence infrastructure, and coordination centres to maximise the impact of available resources,” Massaquoi added.