West African regional army: Why thousands of soldiers are deploying

"West African nations have agreed to activate a regional standby force to combat waves of violence by cross-border armed groups in 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 (ECOWAS) in Sierra Leone. The plan includes mobilising an initial 2,000 soldiers by the end of 2026 to tackle the armed groups, which are expanding their territory and sharpening tactics in the region."

"Armed groups ideologically linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) have routinely attacked military outposts and civilian settlements from Mali to Nigeria. In particular, armed groups have targeted the Sahelian countries of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Nigeria. Increasingly, they are pressing into the coastal states of Togo and Benin. Although fighters typically operate in rural areas with a weak government presence, recent attacks have been launched in major urban areas, and some groups are using more sophisticated weapons."

"If ECOWAS plans to deploy troops, however, it will have to overcome two major challenges, analysts said: funding and infighting that caused military-led Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso to split from the bloc in January 2025 to form their own Alliance."

West African nations agreed to activate a regional standby force to combat escalating violence from cross-border armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS. The security meeting of ECOWAS military chiefs in Sierra Leone resulted in plans to mobilize 2,000 soldiers by end of 2026. Armed groups have expanded territory and adopted sophisticated tactics, targeting military outposts, civilian settlements, and increasingly major urban centers across Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Togo, and Benin. Recent attacks include an ISIL-allied group targeting Niamey airport and an al-Qaeda faction blocking fuel supplies to Bamako. However, ECOWAS deployment faces significant obstacles: funding constraints and regional infighting, particularly after military-led Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso withdrew from ECOWAS in January 2025 to establish their own alliance.

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