ECOWAS : Heads OF Military Staff Strategize

The Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is meeting in the Guinea Bissau’s capital Bissau to brainstorm on how to put in place a multi-regional force capable of extinguishing the increasing jihadists’ threats. The meeting that began on Monday, December 19, is holding in Guinea-Bissau, because the country’s President is the current Chair of the West African organization. At the end of the  deliberations, participants are expected to come up with options and modalities for the effective deployment of ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) in the fight against terrorism and for the restoration of constitutional order where they are threatened in the Region. A proper response to the jihadists’ threats that are spreading in the sub-region, hitting Benin and Togo in particular, will be discussed. The pooling of forces and the sharing of information would also be at the center of the numerous exchanges. A final report of the meeting will be presented to the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government for approval before implementation.
The scourge that has struck the Sahel for a decade from Mali to northern Nigeria is moving south, as evidenced by the attacks in northern Benin and Togo in recent months. Bordering countries are no longer safe from any imminent attacks. With the different States alone are overwhelmed, a...