The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Monday launched a landmark Rapid Deployment Force designed to counter terrorism, piracy, and transnational organised crime.
Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, speaking at the African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja, said the new force will comprise 260,000 personnel drawn from across member states — a decisive shift toward African-led security solutions.
He added that the bloc is finalising a $2.5 billion annual budget to sustain the force, with finance and defence ministers meeting on Friday to discuss funding.
“The activation of this rapid deployment force has become a necessity given the asymmetric security dynamics in the region,” Musah said.
He urged bilateral, multilateral, and UN partners to support the effort under Resolution 2719 (2023), which seeks to cover up to 75% of peacekeeping costs.
ECOWAS commended Nigeria’s leadership and urged participants to deliver “concrete, practical, and innovative recommendations” to strengthen Africa’s collective security architecture.
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On his part, Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima called for greater collaboration beyond national borders.
“None of these tragedies respect borders, and neither should our response. This is the moment to forge a new doctrine of continental defence, rooted in trust, shared intelligence, and coordinated strategy,” Shettima declared.
He urged African nations to prioritise cyber defence, artificial intelligence, and indigenous military technology, warning that the continent must not remain dependent on foreign innovations.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, also stressed that modern threats are evolving beyond traditional battlefields.
“The threats of today are no longer confined to conventional warfare; they are digital, asymmetric and often invisible. The enemy is within,” Musa said.
He emphasised the need to build an African defence industrial base and create accountable institutions, stressing that the sacrifices of fallen soldiers should inspire lasting reform.
The Abuja summit brought together defence chiefs, diplomats, and security experts from across Africa.
