By Mark Longyen

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says having a sub-regional Standby Force (ESF) that can be swiftly deployed to quell conflicts is critical to ensuring peace, security, and development.

Amb. Abdel-Fatah Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at a meeting of the ESF’s police/gendarmerie focal point for peace support operations.

Musah described ESF as a multidimensional force and vital mechanism for regional peace and security architecture designed to swiftly respond to regional conflicts, and an African Standby Force brigade.

He noted that the rapidly changing nature of threats and conflicts has not only made a dynamic and adaptive approach to policing a necessity, but it has underscored the need for combat readiness, cooperation, collaboration, and coordination.

The Commissioner, represented by Dr Sani Adamu, ECOWAS Director of Peacekeeping and Regional Security, therefore, urged participants to leverage their collective strengths and resources to foster a sustainable environment of peace.

“An effective ECOWAS Standby Force supports not just immediate crisis response but also long-term peacebuilding initiatives, creating conditions necessary for economic development and social progress across our region.

“As we refine the operational readiness and effectiveness of the ESF, we must recognise that true security is not only about arms and strategy.

“It is also about leveraging our collective strengths and resources to foster a sustainable environment of peace,” he said.

According to him, the ESF is an investment in a future where the children of community citizens can grow up in a world free from the fear of conflict.

ECOWAS, he said, was a testament to the importance of regional partnerships, bringing together nations under a shared vision of peace and security.

“I therefore urge each of you to actively participate, share your perspectives, and help refine our policing strategy to ensure it meets the highest standards we set for ourselves.

“Our commitments today will pave the way for actionable strategies and tangible outcomes in the field,” he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was attended by participants from the African Union, ECOWAS, and security officials from its training centres of excellence and institutions. (NAN)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

By Mark Longyen

ECOWAS has urged experts from member states to develop a comprehensive logistics concept and depot policies for operation of the bloc’s standby force (ESF).

Amb. Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, gave the charge at a validation meeting on the ESF logistics concept and depot policies, on Monday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ESF is ECOWAS’ proposed 5,000-strong counter-terrorism force established to tackle the surge of violent extremism in West Africa, and unconstitutional changes of government.

The five-day meeting drew experts within the government of the member states to comprehensively review the ESF logistics documents to ensure compliance with global best practices.

Musah, represented by Dr Sani Adamu, Head of ECOWAS Peace Support Mission, noted that having effective logistics to support the takeoff and deployment of ESF is critical to tackling terrorism and violent extremism, thereby promoting peace, stability, and security in the subregion.

According to him, the gathering is a clear demonstration of the significant progress made by the bloc towards strengthening the ESF’s regional logistics capabilities.

“Indeed, there is no gain saying that, the development of a comprehensive logistics concept and depot policies are significant steps forward in enhancing ECOWAS capacity to respond to emerging security challenges.

“Governmental Experts, with exceptionally well-experienced logistics experts from our member states are all gathered here.

“I urge you all to bring to bear, your wealth of experiences to comprehensively review these documents and make them in tandem with continental and global best practice,” he said.

The commissioner said the increased acts of terror, violent extremism, and political instability being experienced in some member states, necessitated a well-resourced logistics strategy with fully functional and operational static depot.

He disclosed that with the completion of the ECOWAS Logistics Depot, which has its headquarters in Lungi, Sierra Leone, it was imperative to develop relevant documents to guide its daily operations.

“Thus, the ESF logistics concept and other relevant documents were developed as tool kits for the management, coordination, and utilisation of the depot’s resources and services, accordingly.

“Your collective inputs will be invaluable in ensuring that these documents are robust, relevant, and effective in our peace support operations objectives.

“Over the next five days, I expect you to engage in constructive discussions, share expertise, and validate these policy documents, toward ensuring that these documents are robust, effective in our peace support operations objectives,” Musah said.

Also speaking, Air Cdre Sampson Eyekosi, the Chairman of the ESF logistics concept and depot policies, assured that the participants would bring collective value to finetune its current drafts.

According to him, this is in order to develop the best and most suitable operating procedures for the discharge of logistics during Peace Support Operations (PSOs), and other emergencies in the subregion.

“Likewise, the need to look closely at the nitty-gritty of all essential that is required to be in place to ensure that the ECOWAS Logistic Depot (ELD) at Lungi, Sierra Leone becomes functional and attains full operational capability in the shortest possible time.

“This is especially as the ELD is now at the verge of being commissioned this year, with over ninety percent of expected infrastructural work already completed on the facility,” he said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim