ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — West Africa defense chiefs on Thursday proposed an ambitious plan to deploy a 5,000-strong “standby force” to combat the region’s worsening security crisis. According to analysts, this is a measure that may not work due to financing problems and divisions within the regional bloc.
The plan, which will cost $2.6 billion a year, was presented to heads of state at a meeting of defense officials in the Nigerian capital Abuja. The plan was also aimed at preventing further coups after a series of military takeovers that have destabilized the region, Nigerian Defense Minister Mohammed Badaru said.
Thursday’s meeting marks the first time the bloc has publicly mapped out the financing of its long-discussed preparedness force. However, analysts identified challenges the country could face, including the shortage of member states’ resources needed to contribute money and securing the support of coup-affected countries most affected by the security crises.
“More than ever, we are at a crucial moment in the history of our community to address insecurity,” said Omar Alieu Touray, chairman of the regional bloc of the ECOWAS Commission, as he urged member states to support the force. Their proposals are expected to be discussed at the upcoming summit of regional heads of state.
The resurgence of coups in West and Central Africa – where four countries are ruled by military governments – has divided the 15-nation ECOWAS and destabilized the region, with the coup-hit Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger among the worst hit by the deadly violence that is now spreading to coastal states.
ECOWAS has tried in vain to bring back democracies in these countries. Their best chance with now-lifted economic sanctions resulted in the three coup-hit countries withdrawing their membership and opening more opportunities for Russian mercenaries in the region.
Touray, the head of the ECOWAS commission, said the bloc had invited officials from the coup-hit countries of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to attend Thursday’s meeting and participate in forming such a force. It was not immediately clear whether the countries would agree.
“I don’t think ECOWAS has the capacity to launch military interventions without foreign assistance,” said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel programme at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
According to Kars de Bruijne, senior researcher at the Clingendael Institute think tank, such a stand-by force can only function if ECOWAS receives the support of all member states and if the bloc develops a strategy for dealing with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
“Realising (such plans) has been a problem for ECOWAS for a long time,” he said.
