By: Aminata Turay
Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, on Thursday received a courtesy call from the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff, who are in Freetown for their 44th Ordinary Meeting.
While the visit formed part of the Committee’s official engagements, the Vice President described it as both an honour and a reflection of Sierra Leone’s important role within the region’s security architecture.
Discussions centred on the evolving defence and security challenges confronting West Africa. With shifting threats across the sub-region including terrorism, transnational organised crime, and political instability the engagement underscored the need for sustained collaboration among member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The meeting emphasised not only strategic coordination but also the shared responsibility of member states in preserving peace and stability across the region.
During the engagement, Vice President Jalloh proposed the establishment of a Regional Defence Academy a centre of excellence that would bring together young military officers from across ECOWAS member states to train and learn alongside one another.
He noted that, beyond professional development, such an institution would help foster trust, mutual understanding, and long-term cooperation among future military leaders in West Africa.
According to the Vice President, regional security is strengthened when relationships are built early and sustained over time. By encouraging joint training programmes and structured interaction, the proposed academy would serve as a practical step toward deeper regional integration and more coordinated responses to common security challenges.
On behalf of President Julius Maada Bio, the Vice President expressed sincere appreciation to the Chiefs of Defence Staff for their continued dedication to safeguarding democracy, peace, and stability throughout West Africa.
The meeting concluded with a clear and unified message: protecting the region requires unity of purpose, a shared vision, and consistent cooperation among ECOWAS member states.
