44TH MEETING OF ECOWAS COMMITTEE OF CHIEFS OF DEFENCE STAFF HOLDS IN FREETOWN – SIERRA LEONE

The ECOWAS Directorate of Peacekeeping and Regional Security (DPKRS), through its Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD), has convened the 44th Meeting of the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff from 23 to 27 February 2026 in Freetown, Republic of Sierra Leone. The high-level gathering brings together Defence Chiefs from Member States to deliberate on the prevailing security situation across the region and chart a collective response to emerging and complex threats.

The meeting is focused on reviewing strategies to address the evolving security landscape, including terrorism, transnational organized crime, and maritime insecurity. Central to the discussions is the evaluation of the roadmap for activating the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) in its kinetic form to combat terrorism in the sub-region. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Defence Chiefs will undertake a working visit to the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi to assess its operational readiness and capacity to support rapid force deployment.

The meeting was officially declared open by Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Colonel Muana Braima Massaquoi (Rtd), who underscored the timely and strategic importance of advancing the activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force. He highlighted the increasingly complex and transnational nature of threats confronting West Africa, noting their exploitation of ungoverned spaces, porous borders, and socio-economic vulnerabilities, as well as their intent to undermine democratic governance.

Emphasizing that the security of one Member State is inseparable from that of the entire Community, Colonel Massaquoi commended ECOWAS for strengthening its political and operational capacity to safeguard Member States and protect democratic order, including efforts to address emerging maritime security challenges. He further stressed that logistics remains the backbone of effective military response, noting that the operationalization of the ECOWAS Logistics Depot will significantly enhance rapid deployment capabilities. He called for sustained collaboration among Member States, the ECOWAS Commission, and international partners, while maintaining strong regional ownership of security initiatives.

In his remarks on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Amb. Abdel-Fatau Musah, underscored the escalating security challenges in West Africa, including widespread terrorist attacks and transnational threats. He reaffirmed the urgency of operationalizing the ECOWAS counterterrorism force, noting progress made in defining the force structure, establishing funding mechanisms, and implementing directives from the Authority of Heads of State and Government. He expressed appreciation to Member States for their continued commitment to regional peace and security and called for focused and productive deliberations.

Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of invited guests, Sierra Leone’s National Security Coordinator, Mr. Aviama Caulker, highlighted the indispensable role of the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff in shaping the region’s collective security architecture. He noted that the meeting comes at a critical moment, as emerging threats have become increasingly regional in scope and demand coordinated, intelligence-driven, and whole-of-government responses. He emphasized that military effectiveness must be reinforced by strong inter-agency coordination, strategic intelligence fusion, robust early-warning mechanisms, and preventive diplomacy.

The 44th Meeting of the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff reaffirms ECOWAS’ resolve to strengthen collective defence mechanisms and advance a unified, strategic response to safeguard peace, security, and democratic stability across West Africa.