The ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Employees (CCDS) convened in Abuja for his or her forty second Peculiar Assembly, reaffirming their unwavering dedication to tackling the quite a few safety challenges that proceed to threaten political stability and the socio-economic well-being of residents within the area. The assembly emphasised the significance of cooperation by way of expertise sharing, intelligence change, and collective efforts in combating terrorism and different types of transnational organized crime. The Defence Chiefs expressed their agency resolve to pool sources and strengthen their collective dedication to guard stability and democratic governance in West Africa, recognizing that no single nation can tackle these challenges alone.
The assembly was held on the Nationwide Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria, from seventh to ninth August 2024. It was chaired by Common Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Employees of Nigeria and Chairman of the CCDS, with assist from H.E. Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Safety. In the course of the assembly, the Chiefs of Defence Employees mentioned, assessed, and reached agreements on their state of readiness, specializing in capabilities, personnel, and logistics of their armed and safety forces. This was in preparation for the swift activation of the ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Power (CTForce) throughout the ongoing operationalization of the ECOWAS Standby Power (ESF). The agenda additionally included different strategically essential subjects, corresponding to ongoing and new safety missions and logistical necessities.
In response to the directive of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Authorities at its sixty fourth Peculiar Summit held in Abuja on 10 December 2023 on the deployment of an ECOWAS Safety Mission to Sierra Leone to assist stabilize the nation, the Defence Chiefs authorised a Mission with a energy of 1200 all ranks and made pledges in direction of elevating the pressure, together with the institution of a Power Headquarters, Joint Intelligence Fusion Centre, and a composite battalion. The Defence Chiefs have been additionally briefed on the state of readiness of the ECOWAS Logistics Depot at Lungi, which is over 90 p.c prepared, and efforts to switch logistical gear to the power.
In relation to the activation of the ECOWAS Standby Power (ESF) to battle terrorism within the Area, the Defence Chiefs reiterated their commitments to elevating an general 5,000-man ESF with a start-up of a 1,650-man Counter-Terrorism Brigade as an instantaneous precedence. The ECOWAS Ministers of Finance are on account of meet later within the month to finetune the modalities for funding and equipping the kinetic pressure, which might set off the graduation of pledges and speedy motion to activate the Power.
On the margins of the assembly, the Chiefs of Defence Employees paid a courtesy go to to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Authorities, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. The President counseled the Defence Chiefs for the profitable final result of their assembly and their dedication to the safety and democratic alternative of the Neighborhood. He expressed the Authority’s dedication to offer the required sources to facilitate the profitable execution of their mandate to safe the Area, whereas declaring the dedication of the Authority to making sure the unity of the Neighborhood. Earlier, the Chiefs of Defence Employees additionally undertook a go to to the Nigerian Nationwide Counterterrorism Centre in Abuja the place networking, synergies and partnerships have been cast.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Financial Neighborhood of West African States (ECOWAS).
