Experts from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) met in Abuja on Monday to finalize the policies for the logistics depot of the regional standby force. The depot, located in Lungi, Sierra Leone, is expected to be officially launched later this year.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, emphasized that the growing threats of terrorism, violent extremism, and political instability in the region highlight the critical need for a fully functional logistics depot. Represented by Sanni Mohammed, Acting Head of Peace Support Operations at ECOWAS, Musah explained that the depot would house the necessary equipment for peace support and counterterrorism operations.
“The ECOWAS Commission has invested significant resources into the construction and operationalization of the depot, making it a vital project for the region’s peace support infrastructure,” Musah said. “The rise in terrorism, extremism, and political instability in many of our countries underscores the urgent need for a well-resourced logistics strategy with an operational and static depot.”
The ECOWAS Commission has committed substantial resources to ensure the depot’s construction and functionality, viewing it as a cornerstone of the region’s peace support operations. The depot’s strategic location in Lungi, a coastal area, is designed to facilitate the easy shipment and evacuation of equipment by air, sea, or land.
Musah also noted that the ECOWAS standby force, already activated, is currently engaged in peace missions in Guinea-Bissau and Gambia. The standby force is set to be mobilized soon for counterterrorism operations, with troops from member states on standby for deployment.
He further explained that the force requires adequate resources, with member states working together to mobilize internal resources for its operations.
Air Commodore Sampson Eyekosi, who chaired the meeting, clarified that the ECOWAS standby force does not replace the Multinational Joint Task Force but complements other security efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region. The force’s size will depend on the nature of the security threat, and member states will deploy units based on collective decisions and the situation at hand.
Eyekosi also emphasized the importance of well-structured logistics procedures for effective peace support operations in the region. He underlined that the full operationalization of the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi is crucial for both current and future peace missions.
“You cannot work in isolation. It’s a collective effort to achieve peace and security,” he said. “The size of the force is flexible, depending on the nature of the threat, but units are put on alert based on collective pledges. They train together, are prepared, and are deployed as necessary.”
Eyekosi stressed the importance of having well-planned logistics to ensure the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi becomes fully operational as quickly as possible. “Effective peace support operations require proven logistics processes, and it’s essential to ensure that all necessary elements are in place for the depot to function at its full capacity,” he added.
