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The plan, which will cost USD 2.6 billion annually, was proposed to heads of state at a meeting of defense officials, which was held in Nigeria’s capital of Abuja
Defense chiefs of West Africa on June 27 proposed a plan to deploy a 5,000-strong “standby force” to fight the region’s worsening security crises. However, analysts are skeptical about the feasibility of implementing the project due to the challenges of funding and division within the regional bloc.
The plan, which will cost USD 2.6 billion annually, was proposed to heads of state at a meeting of defense officials, which was held in Nigeria’s capital of Abuja. The plan was also aimed at preventing further coups following a string of military takeovers that have destabilized the region. Nigeria’s Defense Minister Mohammed Badaru revealed this important decision as a major highlight of the recommendation of the defense chiefs of West Africa.
It may be recalled that West Africa has the maximum number of countries in the coup-hit league. Therefore, it has to be seen how many such countries will support such a move, which goes against the existence of their regimes.
Thursday’s meeting is the first time the bloc is mapping out publicly the financing of its long-talked-about standby force. However, analysts identified challenges it might face, including the shortage of funds, and securing the support of coup-hit countries most affected by the security crises.
Omar Alieu Touray, president of the regional bloc of the ECOWAS Commission, urged member-states to support the force amidst widespread insecurity in the region. The proposals are expected to be considered at the upcoming summit of the regional heads of state.
West and Central Africa have witnessed coups in recent years. Amongst them are Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which are worst-hit by the deadly violence now spreading to coastal nations. This has considerably weakened ECOWAS. The three coup-hit countries withdrew their membership and opened more windows for Russian mercenaries in the region.
Although ECOWAS has reportedly invited representatives of the coup-hit countries to attend the meeting held yesterday (Thursday), it is not known whether they have done so. Analysts point out that in all probability they would have abstained. It may be noted that three states have formed an association called the Alliance of Sahel States ( AES) to protect their strategic interest.
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International strategic experts have also expressed that on their own ECOWAS members may not be able to keep a security force due to differences amongst themselves and paucity of funds. Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation said that a standby force could only work if ECOWAS gets the commitment of all its member states and if the bloc maps out a strategy to deal with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
