ECOWAS to Deploy 1,650 Troops in 2026 for Counterterrorism Operations

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced plans to deploy 1,650 personnel from its Standby Force (ESF) in 2026 under a new counterterrorism initiative for the sub-region. The move, which follows an agreement by ECOWAS Ministers of Finance and Defence in Abuja, will see the personnel serve as a Rapid Deployment Force within the 5,000-strong ESF Brigade — the West African component of the African Standby Force.

According to the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, the measure responds to the growing threat of terrorism and violent extremism, which has spread beyond the Sahel into coastal countries. He highlighted Mali as an example, where extremist activity has steadily shifted from the north to central and western border areas.

To ensure readiness, ECOWAS’s Training Centres of Excellence — including Ghana’s Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) and Nigeria’s National Defence College — will provide specialised training such as Staff Officers Courses and Protection of Civilians programmes. Officials at the opening meeting in Abuja stressed the importance of collaboration, innovation, and proactive crisis management in tackling insecurity.

Ghana’s ECOWAS Representative, Ambassador Muhammed Gana, described the initiative as timely, urging member states to strengthen political will and address root causes of instability. Other dignitaries present included senior officers from the ECOWAS Commission, KAIPTC, and Nigeria’s NDC, who reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the sub-region’s peace and security agenda.