Breaking: Nigeria Sends 86 Soldiers To Guinea-Bissau Under ECOWAS Operation

The Nigerian Army has deployed 86 military personnel to Guinea-Bissau as part of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Stabilisation Support Mission, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to regional peace and security.

The troops, designated as Nigerian Company 5 under the ECOWAS mission, departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja aboard a Nigerian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft.

In a statement shared on its official social media platforms on Saturday, the Army confirmed that the contingent had arrived safely in Guinea-Bissau and commenced operations under the ECOWAS peace support mandate.

Before their departure from the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Forward Operating Base in Abuja, the Chief of Operations, Major General Mayirenso Saraso, urged the personnel to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and operational excellence throughout the mission.

Represented by the Director of Peace Support Operations, Brigadier General M.M. Idris, Saraso reminded the troops that they were representing not only the Nigerian Army but also the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the nation as a whole.

He also instructed them to respect the laws, customs and traditions of Guinea-Bissau while carrying out their responsibilities.

The soldiers were cautioned against acts of indiscipline, substance abuse, sexual exploitation and abuse, as well as the irresponsible use of social media during the deployment.

According to the Army, the mission reflects Nigeria’s enduring commitment to promoting regional stability and underscores its leadership role in ECOWAS peace support operations.

The statement noted that Nigeria remains one of Africa’s leading contributors to regional and international peacekeeping missions, drawing on decades of experience under the ECOWAS, African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) frameworks.

It added that the latest deployment further demonstrates Nigeria’s strategic role in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and post-conflict stabilisation efforts across the continent.

The ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau was established to assist with security sector reforms and sustain political stability after years of political unrest and military interventions in the country.

The operation succeeded the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau, which was deployed following the country’s 2012 military coup, and forms part of broader efforts by the regional bloc to safeguard constitutional order and prevent instability from escalating across the region.

Nigeria has consistently played a leading role in ECOWAS peacekeeping operations, previously contributing troops, logistics and military leadership to missions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.