ECOWAS Standby Force Stalled As Touray Reveals Sh*cking $2.6bn Price Tag

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, has revealed that the regional bloc requires about $2.61 billion to set up and operationalise its proposed 5,000-man ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF).

Touray made this known at a joint meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Finance and Defence on Friday in Abuja, convened to finalise strategies for mobilising funds to activate the anti-terrorism force.

He noted that terrorism poses one of the gravest threats to regional stability and integration, warning that it undermines international trade, discourages investment, disrupts commerce, and hampers free movement across West Africa.

“The rise of terrorist activities within and around the region is a matter of urgent concern to both governments and citizens,” Touray said.

Citing the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, he stressed that Africa has overtaken the Middle East as the global epicentre of terrorism, with the Sahel recording a surge in extremist attacks fueled by instability, poor governance, and protracted conflicts.

Touray explained that ECOWAS is adopting a multi-dimensional counter-terrorism strategy, including intelligence sharing, regional training, humanitarian support, and the establishment of the ESF as a rapid-response force.

He recalled that at a prior meeting on June 27, 2024, in Abuja, ministers agreed on the urgency of activating the standby force to address both terrorism and unconstitutional changes of government.

Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Mohammed Abubakar, emphasised that the bloc faces mounting threats—from violent extremism and cross-border crimes to power grabs. He described the Abuja meeting as a decisive step toward creating a force that safeguards sovereignty, democracy, and citizens’ security.

Abubakar outlined potential funding mechanisms, including adjustments to the Community Levy, GDP-based contributions, direct budget allocations, blended financing, and strategic partnerships.

“This is not just another meeting; it is a mandate to act decisively. The people of ECOWAS are looking to us for leadership and protection,” he said.

Sierra Leone’s Deputy Defence Minister, retired Col. Brima Massaquoi, underscored ECOWAS’s wider role in integration, governance, and peacekeeping, but admitted that political instability, recurring conflicts, and terrorism still challenge the region.

He called for innovative financing models such as public-private partnerships, contributions from regional financial institutions, and the creation of specialised security funds.

“We must invest in intelligence, training, and coordination centres to ensure that resources are used effectively,” Massaquoi urged.