ECOWAS: a counterterrorism brigade operational by the end of 2026
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announces the establishment of a regional counterterrorism brigade that is expected to be fully operational before the end of 2026.
This decision aims to strengthen the region’s collective capacity to address the rising terrorist threats and cross-border security challenges.
The new force is part of ECOWAS’s overall strategy to consolidate peace and stability across West Africa. Its mission will be to support member states in preventing, detecting and neutralizing armed groups and extremist networks.
According to officials of the regional organization, this counterterrorism brigade will complement existing mechanisms, such as multilateral forces deployed in certain sensitive areas, while ensuring better coordination among countries.
The creation of this specialized unit is rooted in the evolving security threat in West Africa. Terrorist attacks, kidnappings and cross-border criminal activities have weighed on several countries in the subregion for years.
ECOWAS believes that a joint force dedicated to counterterrorism will allow resources, intelligence and operational expertise to be combined for faster, more targeted responses.
Preparations for this brigade are already underway, with consultations among member states on the legal framework, funding and deployment timetable. ECOWAS hopes the new force will be fully operational before the end of 2026, under the auspices of existing regional collective security mechanisms.
This initiative comes at a time when several countries in the region, facing internal security challenges, have called for stronger military cooperation and information sharing between states. For ECOWAS, the counterterrorism brigade represents a major step towards a more integrated regional security architecture.
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