ECOWAS to Launch Anti-Terrorism Force with 2,000 Combatants

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced plans to launch an anti-terrorism force with an initial deployment of 2,000 combatants to combat terrorism across the region.

The decision was made last week at a days-long security meeting of military chiefs of the Economic Community of West African States in Sierra Leone.

Although the idea of an anti-terrorism force has been discussed for years, the creation of the combat unit comes at a time when the region faces what experts describe as an “existential security threat.”

The region has long been plagued by terrorism led by groups linked to Al-Qaeda and other militant organisations.

The violence has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people across the region.

While fighters typically operate in rural areas with limited government presence, recent attacks have also targeted major urban centres, with some groups increasingly deploying more sophisticated weapons.