By: Nana Antwi Boasiako
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has highlighted the vital need for a standby force within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), stressing its essential role in maintaining regional stability and security.
He emphasized that establishing such a force would play a significant role in addressing the growing concern of military coups and unconstitutional government changes that have affected the West African sub-region in recent years. By creating this standby force, ECOWAS can better respond to emerging threats and protect the region’s democratic gains, ensuring a more secure and stable future for its member states.
Speaking at the opening of the second Africa Security Conference and Exhibition in Accra on Wednesday, August 28, President Akufo-Addo emphasized the urgent need for a dedicated ECOWAS standby force, stating that its establishment is not only necessary but long overdue. He asserted that such a force would serve as a powerful deterrent against forces seeking to destabilize the region through unconstitutional means, terrorism, and insurgencies.
He expressed his conviction that a standby force would have prevented the recent spate of military coups that have disrupted the political stability of several West African countries, had it been operational in the past. He highlighted the potential of such a force to safeguard the region’s security and maintain democratic order, emphasizing its critical role in shaping a more stable future for Africa.
President Akufo-Addo’s comments come amid a period of heightened instability in West Africa, where a confluence of challenges threaten to undermine regional security. The recent surge in military coups, fueled by a toxic mix of political unrest and economic adversity, has sparked alarm about the prospects of democratic governance in the sub-region.
The ongoing scourge of terrorism and insurgencies, particularly in countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, has significantly escalated tensions, posing a formidable threat to regional stability and peace. This complex landscape underscores the urgent need for collective action to address these pressing concerns and ensure a more secure and stable future for West Africa.