West African regional army deploys thousands of soldiers

West African nations have agreed to activate a regional standby force to combat violence by cross-border armed groups. The decision was made at a security meeting of military chiefs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Sierra Leone. The plan includes mobilizing 2,000 soldiers by the end of 2026 to tackle armed groups expanding their territory and tactics in the region, especially targeting Sahelian countries. The ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF), formed in 1999, has been crucial in ending conflicts in the region. However, challenges such as funding and infighting within the bloc may hinder the deployment of troops. The proposed activation of the ESF would respond to threats posed by ideological armed groups for the first time. The deployment comes as the region faces an “existential security threat” with thousands killed and displaced.

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