ECOWAS Defence Chiefs Conclude Plans For Deployment of Standby Force to Sierra Leone

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has authorized the deployment of a 1,200-strong peacekeeping force to Sierra Leone to help stabilize the country.

The decision was made following the 42nd Ordinary meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDS) in Abuja, Nigeria. The meeting was chaired by General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria and Chairman of the CCDS.

During the meeting, the Chiefs of Defence Staff discussed, assessed, and reached agreements on their state of readiness, focusing on capabilities, personnel, and logistics of their armed and security forces. This was in preparation for the swift activation of the ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Force (CTForce) within the ongoing operationalization of the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF).

The Defence Chiefs were also briefed on the state of readiness of the ECOWAS Logistics Depot at Lungi, Sierra Leone which is over 90 percent ready, and efforts to transfer logistical equipment to the facility.

In addition to the Sierra Leone mission, ECOWAS defense chiefs also reaffirmed their commitment to forming a 5,000-strong standby force to combat terrorism in the region. A 1,650-person counter-terrorism brigade will be the initial focus of this effort.

The deployment of both forces will require significant financial resources, and ECOWAS finance ministers are scheduled to meet later this month to finalize funding plans.

The Defence Chiefs expressed their firm resolve to pool resources and strengthen their collective determination to protect stability and democratic governance in West Africa, recognizing that no single nation can address these challenges alone.

Comment(s)

Disclaimer: Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Sierraloaded or any employee thereof.

| 2024-08-25 09:15:07

It is very unfortunate that as a country we have to agreed to this madness called standby force arrangement. Firstly we may need to ask our selves these questions: √ Why do we need standby forces? √ From which countries will the forces be coming from? √ Is the countries from which the standby forces coming been to manned their own internal security adequately? Why is ECOWAS standby force only coming to Sierra Leone? √ On the issue of terrorism treat, what the elements that made Sierra Leone a hotspot for terrorism √ How is Sierra Leone a terrorism treat nation in the sub-regional? √ What parameter was used to analysed in terms of security treat that made Sierra Leone so vulnerable to a point that we need a standby forces? √ Will the standby forces help our current economic and welfare issues at hand? If we are not in any position the adequately answer these questions then we to do not need any thing called standby forces. I am very sure those representing us at level did not carry their heads and education to that meeting.
| 2024-08-25 08:39:47

What is really going on in this country, i don't understand people are suffering in this country there is no enough food and the economy system is poor, let the people leave us to live in peace please 🙏
Drozo | 2024-08-19 20:27:30

If any one thinks ECOMISIL is going to the country on the invitation of anyone, particularly president Bio, think again. A state of affairs exists in Sierra Leone since June 24th election 2023, needs immediate attention brought to it, by no other than our regional partners, to avoid a repeat of our trouble past during which tens of thousands of our compatriots had starved, drowned in rivers, maimed, were left dead in forests or shot and killed. This is the invitation of the Stabilizing force with a mission to ensure the tenets of democratic governance that are international best practices are followed and maintained in our small republic. We all should be hopeful.
| 2024-08-17 19:19:23

Ecomog for what, I don't really understand what's happening with sierra Leone president it because you don't win the election that's why you are wasting the country money on Ecomog to come and guide you but we are not at war so why Ecomog?
| 2024-08-17 11:29:50

Why do we as a nation need a stabilisation force? This is all because one set of people decided that they will not give their country the peace they deserve. This is leading to more financial strain in our economy because we have to contribute heavily to the maintenance of their contribution. Sierra Leoneans please rethink what you wish for. At the moment things are hard for our people. What is it going to be after?
| 2024-08-17 09:20:44

Warning warning to all Ecomog soldiers bring your wives and husbands with you along because all Sierra Leone girls women boys must be free from Ecomog soldiers especially the teen-agers. Any Ecomog soldier tamper with any woman, a girl, or a boy unlawfully without legal marriage that soldier will not return with his or her life back to where they come from 😭. We are going to set up a special team to surveillance the Ecomog soldiers movement because Sierra is not at war and they are not welcome in our country. We need peace tranquility,no more criminals, rappers, and murders welcome in this nation. Enough with basterd children with no fathers. . ECOWAS millitry are not welcome in Sierra Leone period.