The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced the deployment of an initial 1,650 personnel as part of its standby force to address the escalating threat of terrorism across the subregion.
This strategy was unveiled by Dr. Alieu Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, during a high-level briefing at the United Nations Security Council in New York in late 2025. The mission is designed to respond to a deteriorating security landscape where extremist violence has transitioned from traditional hotspots in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin toward coastal nations, directly threatening major trade corridors and vital infrastructure.
Dr. Touray provided a stark assessment of the 2025 security situation, noting that the region has already recorded 450 terrorist attacks resulting in nearly 2,000 deaths. He warned that insurgent groups are increasingly employing “economic warfare” by sabotaging fuel supplies and destabilizing local economies to erode state authority.
To counter this, ECOWAS plans to eventually scale its standby force to 5,000 troops, supported by member state contributions and international funding. However, the Commission President identified significant obstacles to success, including fragmented national responses, diplomatic mistrust between neighbors, and gaps in intelligence-sharing.
He concluded by urging the UN Security Council to provide sustainable financial support and help foster the political unity necessary for a successful military response.
