At the 2025 African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja, ECOWAS President Omar Alieu Touray announced bold plans to establish a 260,000-strong rapid deployment counter-terrorism brigade. The initiative aims to bolster regional security across the Sahel, supplying both logistical and financial support to frontline states battling insurgents and extremist networks. To bring this ambitious force to life, ECOWAS will seek to raise US $2.5 billion annually through contributions from member states and appeals to international partners.
ECOWAS already maintains a 5,000-strong standby brigade under the African Peace and Security Architecture but views the expanded force as necessary to address escalating asymmetric threats. Touray noted that the Sahel accounted for 51% of global terrorism deaths in 2024, underlining the urgency for a robust regional response.
Defence and finance ministers are scheduled to convene in Abuja to finalize modalities for raising the required $2.5 billion budget. ECOWAS is also calling on the African Union and United Nations to honor commitments under UN Security Council Resolution 2719, which pledges to fund 75% of African-led peace support operations.
This initiative not only stands as ECOWAS’s most expansive security platform yet but also reflects a pivot toward African ownership of peace operations, emphasizing humanitarian support, maritime security hubs, and integrated defence strategies. The programme is envisioned as both a deterrent and a stabilizer for a region increasingly under siege from violent extremism.
