The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has activated its Standby Force to combat terrorism and other transborder crimes in the subregion.
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, announced this in Abuja on Tuesday during the Forty-third Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff. He emphasized that the region’s economic growth is reliant on maintaining stable peace and stressed the need for ECOWAS members to unite against all forms of threats to the region.
On January 29, 2025, ECOWAS recognized the departure of three former members—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic—following the expiration of their one-year notice period.
In the spirit of regional solidarity, ECOWAS has asked its member countries to continue recognizing the national passports of the three departing countries that bear the ECOWAS logo until further notice.
The exit of these countries has created a division within the region, leaving the future of ECOWAS uncertain. The three junta-led nations formally notified ECOWAS in January 2024 of their decision to withdraw, citing concerns over the organization’s excessive reliance on France.
The three countries have since aligned themselves with Russia, Turkey, and Iran, moving away from France, which they now view as a common adversary. Meanwhile, ECOWAS required a one-year notice for their departure, with the deadline set for January 29, 2025.
In response to their exit, the three Sahelian nations have formed a new confederation called the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
