The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has unveiled plans to establish a 260,000-strong rapid deployment counter-terrorism brigade, with an annual funding target of $2.5 billion. The announcement was made by Commission President Omar Touray during the 2025 African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja, themed “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration.”
Speaking through Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Touray explained that the funds will cover the activation of the force, logistics, and financial support for frontline states fighting terrorism. He highlighted that the Sahel region has now become the epicenter of global terrorism, accounting for 51% of all terror-related deaths worldwide in 2024.
Touray stressed that while ECOWAS remains committed to its 5,000-man brigade under the African Peace and Security Architecture, the scale of threats in the region requires a larger, rapid response force. He added that finance and defense ministers from member states will meet in Abuja this Friday to finalize modalities on how to raise the $2.5 billion annual budget. He also urged international partners, particularly the United Nations, to fulfill its 2023 pledge under Security Council Resolution 2719 to fund 75% of African-led peace operations.
Beyond counter-terrorism, ECOWAS is also advancing its integrated maritime security plan, which includes three regional maritime centers, a coordinating hub in Abuja, and broader strategies to curb transnational organized crime. These measures, Touray noted, are vital for safeguarding both land and sea against criminal networks.
Former Minister of External Affairs, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, added weight to the discussion, revealing that Africa is now battling over 1,000 insurgent groups. He called for investment in indigenous defense industries and technologies, stressing that African nations must secure their own territories before seeking continental security. Gambari warned that without such efforts, regional bodies will remain overwhelmed by the escalating threats of terrorism and banditry.