The Economic Community of West African States has taken a crucial step towards improving regional security by finalising logistical regulations for its standby force.
ECOWAS experts convened in Abuja on Monday to finalise guidelines for the depot, which is scheduled to open later this year in Lungi, Sierra Leone.
The group emphasised the urgent necessity for such a facility in light of the region’s rising issues.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, was represented by Acting Head of Peace Support Operations,Sanni Mohammed, who noted that the depot will contain important equipment for peace support operations and counterterrorism initiatives.
He explained, “The ECOWAS Commission has injected substantial resources towards the construction as well as the operationalisation of the depot, and it remains a critical flagship project for ECOWAS region’s peace support operations infrastructure.”
“The increased acts of terrorism, violent extremism, and political instability being experienced in a number of our countries, with heavy and dire consequences, are a clear testament to the urgent need for a well-resourced logistics strategy with a fully functional and operational and static depot.”
Ambassador Musah further highlighted the strategic advantage of the depot’s coastal location in Lungi, noting that it would facilitate the shipping and evacuation of equipment by land, air, or sea.
He pointed out that the ECOWAS standby force, already fully activated and involved in peace support missions in Guinea-Bissau and Gambia, is on the verge of being mobilized for counterterrorism efforts, with troops from member states ready to deploy.
Chairing the session, Air Commodore Sampson Eyekosi emphasized the importance of well-structured logistics procedures in the success of peace support operations.
He said, “You can’t operate in isolation. It is not playing any role. “We work together to achieve regional peace and security.
“It’s not fixed. The threat dictates how large the force will be. However, troops in member nations are placed on notice according on the amount pledged for the collective effort.And they are trained together, they are prepared, they are deployed as the situation requires.
“As we all know, it is imperative that the conduct of Peace Support Operations in the ECOWAS region requires to be properly guided by a well thought out and proven logistics procedures and processes.
“Likewise, the need to look closely at the nitty-gritty of all essentials that is required to be in place to ensure that the ECOWAS Logistic Depot at Lungi, Sierra Leone becomes functional and attains full operational capability in the shortest possible time.”
The meeting reflected ECOWAS’s commitment to building a robust logistics framework capable of supporting current and future peace missions.
As regional security challenges intensify, the depot is expected to serve as a pivotal asset in bolstering the standby force’s operational readiness, ensuring swift and effective responses to threats of terrorism and violent extremism.
With the logistics depot nearing operational status, ECOWAS is poised to further its mission of maintaining peace and security across the region, reinforcing the collective effort of its member states and underscoring its role as a cornerstone of regional stability.
