By Victor Akaa
The 42nd Ordinary Meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff kicked off in Abuja, Nigeria, with a resounding call to action for collective strength and cooperation in addressing the region’s pressing security challenges. The two-day meeting is expected to end on Friday, 9 August 2024.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, who is the Chairman ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff, welcomed the esteemed gathering of defence chiefs, emphasizing their shared commitment to building and maintaining a secure environment for the safety and well-being of West African citizens.
He said the meeting is aimed at deliberating on topical issues bordering on the general security situation in the West Africa Region, including terrorism, insurgency, organized crimes, and unconstitutional takeover of governments.
“These challenges not only threaten our national security but also undermine the social fabric and socio-economic development of the entire region,” he stated.
The CDS averred that with constructive dialogue and collaborative efforts, the defence chiefs are poised to harness their collective wisdom, experience, and determination to advance the ECOWAS security agenda and ensure a safer and more secure future for the region.
The meeting’s agenda includes critical areas such as the proposed ECOWAS Security Support Mission in Sierra Leone, the activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force against Terrorism, and the Development of the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Sierra Leone, ongoing airport space operations missions in the South region, among others.
General Musa emphasized the importance of collaboration, saying, “The complexity of the security landscape demands that we leverage our collective expertise, share intelligence, and coordinate our efforts across borders if we must solve these challenges.
“Collaboration is paramount and imperative to address both the root causes and symptoms of insecurity in our region. It is on this premise that the agenda for this meeting was carefully crafted to focus on critical areas and building from our previous engagements,” General Musa stated.
General Musa encouraged participants to enthusiastically exchange ideas and strategies to produce meaningful outcomes for the benefit of all. He also acknowledged the sacrifices made by men and women in uniform and honoured their dedication to maintaining peace.
The Honourable Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar in his remarks, emphasized the need for joint efforts in countering terrorism, managing cross-border crimes, and hybrid threats to ensure regional development.
Honourable Abubakar who was the Special Guest of Honour expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the meeting and acknowledged the importance of collective commitment to unity efforts and response to common threats.
