ECOWAS has brought together financial and military experts in Abuja to design a new framework for funding and strengthening its Standby Force, the regional security unit tasked with responding to terrorism and political instability. The three day meeting, held from August 27 to 29, 2025, follows directives from the bloc’s 67th Summit of Heads of State. It comes at a critical moment, as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso formally quit the organization earlier this year, accusing it of failing to tackle jihadist violence and of being swayed by foreign powers.
Experts from finance and defense ministries of member states are weighing options such as reforming the ECOWAS community levy system, improving transparency, and recovering outstanding contributions to ensure steady financing. This latest effort builds on earlier consultations, including a February 2025 session that validated key policies on logistics and operations for the Standby Force. ECOWAS has already authorized the deployment of 1,200 troops to Sierra Leone and plans to activate a larger 5,000 member Standby Force, featuring a 1,650 strong counterterrorism brigade.
Alongside financing, the bloc is rolling out new training programs for military, police, and civilian personnel, with a strong emphasis on human rights, gender equality, and conflict prevention. These moves reflect ECOWAS’s determination to create a more reliable and effective regional security architecture, as extremist violence continues to threaten states such as Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. Leaders say a sustainable, well-resourced Standby Force is vital to ensuring longterm peace and stability across West Africa.
