By Josephine Sesay
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reached a significant milestone in strengthening regional security by finalizing the logistics framework for its standby force. A key depot, set to open in Lungi, Sierra Leone, later this year, will serve as a strategic hub for peacekeeping and counterterrorism operations.
Security experts from ECOWAS gathered in Abuja on Monday to establish the final operational guidelines for the depot. The initiative is seen as a crucial step in addressing escalating security threats across West Africa.
According to ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah—represented at the meeting by Acting Head of Peace Support Operations, Sanni Mohammed—the commission has invested significant resources in the construction and operationalization of the depot.
“The ECOWAS Commission has injected substantial resources into this flagship project, which remains critical to our regional peace support infrastructure,” Mohammed stated.
The depot will be a central storage facility for essential equipment, ensuring quick deployment of resources in response to security challenges. Its strategic coastal location in Lungi allows for efficient transportation of supplies by land, air, and sea.
Ambassador Musah highlighted that ECOWAS’s standby force, already engaged in peace missions in Guinea-Bissau and The Gambia, is on the brink of full mobilisation for counterterrorism efforts. Member states have trained and prepared troops for deployment, ready to respond to emerging threats.
Chairing the Abuja session, Air Commodore Sampson Eyekosi stressed the importance of a well-structured logistics system for the success of peacekeeping missions.
“You can’t operate in isolation. We work together to achieve regional peace and security,” Eyekosi remarked. “The size of the force will always be dictated by the threat level, but our troops are on notice, trained, and ready for action.”
With rising concerns over terrorism, violent extremism, and political instability in the region, ECOWAS’s investment in a robust logistics network is expected to enhance the bloc’s ability to respond swiftly to crises.
The upcoming Lungi depot is poised to become a crucial asset in supporting peace operations, reinforcing regional stability, and strengthening ECOWAS’s capacity to combat security threats across West Africa.