The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has activated its Standby Force to combat terrorism and other transborder crimes affecting the subregion.
The announcement was made by Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, during the Forty-third Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff in Abuja on Tuesday. Badaru emphasized that the economic growth of the region is closely tied to the maintenance of stable peace, stressing the importance of collective action among ECOWAS members to address all forms of regional threats.
On January 29, 2025, ECOWAS acknowledged the exit of three of its former members Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger following the expiration of the one-year notice period required for withdrawal. Despite their departure, ECOWAS, in the spirit of regional solidarity, has urged its member countries to continue recognizing the national passports of these three countries bearing the ECOWAS logo until further notice.
The exit of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger has left the region fractured, casting uncertainty over the future of the ECOWAS bloc. The three junta-led countries had formally notified ECOWAS of their intention to withdraw in January 2024, citing concerns over the organization’s perceived over-reliance on France.
France has become a common adversary for the three juntas, which now seek closer ties with nations like Russia, Turkey, and Iran. In response, ECOWAS required a one-year notice for their departure to take effect, with the deadline set for January 29, 2025.
In the meantime, the three countries have formed a separate confederation known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
