Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso Absent As ECOWAS Defence Chiefs Meet In Abuja

Defence Chiefs of countries that make up the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) converged in Abuja on Wednesday for a meeting.
meeting is the 42nd Ordinary Meeting of the Ecowas Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff.

The meeting is chaired by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who is the chairman of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff.
However, notably absent  at the meeting are the Chiefs from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, whose countries earlier in the year (2024), announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS.
Their withdrawal and the implications may form part of discussions at the meeting with a focus on addressing the security vacuum and finding ways of addressing emerging threats arising from political instability.

The meeting will discuss regional security at a time the bloc is considering the establishment of a force that will counter security challenges.
General Musa charged the military to always uphold democratic values. He noted that the complexity of the security landscape requires the sharing of intelligence across the region.
Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, ECOWAS, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, stated that the 42nd ordinary meeting was delayed because of the political developments exemplified by coups in the region.

He added that this will allow the chiefs to review the implementation of the decisions taken at the previous meeting.

Other dignitaries present at the meeting include the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, Chairman Senate Committee on Defence Ahmed Lawan, Chairman House Committee of Defence. Representative of the National Security Adviser.