BAMAKO, Mali

West African military chiefs meeting Thursday in Freetown, Sierra Leone, emphasized close coordination between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) as they advance plans to operationalize an ECOWAS standby force.

The talks, chaired by Sierra Leone President and ECOWAS Chair Julius Maada Bio, focus on mobilizing an initial 2,000 troops by the end of 2026 to respond to the spread of terrorism, including threats to coastal states.

Participants stressed “the need for close coordination between the two organizations to ensure regional security,” despite the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from ECOWAS to form the AES.

Member states are expected to specify troop contributions, with emphasis on self-financing and using internal resources before seeking external support.

The push to activate the ECOWAS Standby Force comes amid escalating attacks in West Africa. According to the Global Terrorism Index, more than half of global terrorism-related deaths in 2024 occurred in the region, highlighting the need for a rapid, coordinated response.