By Ebi Kesiena
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced plans to raise $2.5 billion annually to finance a 260,000-strong rapid deployment counter-terrorism brigade to confront escalating security threats in the region.
ECOWAS President, Dr. Omar Touray, disclosed this at 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.” Represented by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, Touray explained that the funds would cover the activation of the brigade, logistics, and financial support for frontline states battling insurgency.
According to him, the Sahel has become the global epicentre of terrorism, accounting for 51 per cent of all related deaths worldwide in 2024 alone. He stressed that this grim reality highlights the urgency of a coordinated continental response to asymmetric threats.
“On the directive of the ECOWAS Heads of Government, the organisation is activating a 260,000-man rapid deployment counter-terrorism brigade to complement the existing 5,000-strong force under the African Peace and Security Architecture,” Touray said. “We are fully aware that such a bold initiative requires substantial financial backing, which is why member states are working on modalities to raise $2.5 billion annually.”
Touray revealed that Ministers of Finance and Defence from ECOWAS member states will meet in Abuja on Friday to finalise funding arrangements. He also urged bilateral and multilateral partners to support the initiative, calling on the United Nations to fulfil its pledge under Security Council Resolution 2719 of December 2023, which provides for 75 per cent of the funding of African-led peace support operations.
Beyond terrorism, Touray noted that ECOWAS is implementing an integrated maritime security strategy, establishing three regional maritime centres and an international coordinating hub in Abuja, while also working to curb transnational organised crime across West Africa.
In his remarks, Nigeria’s former Minister of External Affairs, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, warned that Africa is now confronted with more than 1,000 insurgent groups, citing findings by the African Research Network for Regional and Global Governance Innovation. He emphasised the need for African nations to strengthen homegrown defence industries and technologies, while also prioritising national security as the foundation for regional and continental stability.
Gambari further urged regional blocs to act decisively against the growing wave of terrorism and banditry, insisting that only strong collaborative measures will safeguard Africa’s future.
