By: Mohamed Sahr
Sierra Leone has reached a landmark milestone in its post-war national journey, assuming the Chairmanship of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDS) for the first time in its history.
The official transfer of authority from General Christopher Musah of Nigeria to Lieutenant General Amara Idara Bangura, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), took place during the 44th Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff, held from 24-27 February 2026 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Aberdeen, Freetown.
The high-level gathering brought together Chiefs of Defence Staff and senior military representatives from across the sub-region, along with officials of the ECOWAS Commission, heads of mission, security sector leaders, and government ministers. The meeting highlighted the growing strategic importance of collective security as West Africa faces complex and evolving threats.
The formal handover marked the conclusion of General Christopher Musa’s tenure, which was widely praised for navigating the region through unprecedented political and security challenges. Under his leadership, the CCDS strengthened defence cooperation and reinforced its operational relevance among member states.
In assuming the chairmanship, Lieutenant General Bangura pledged Sierra Leone’s unwavering commitment to advancing ECOWAS’ collective security vision. “This baton of leadership is not merely ceremonial,’’ he said. It represents a collective responsibility to safeguard peace, stability, and democratic governance across our region.”
The 44th Ordinary Meeting focused on several urgent security priorities, including the operationalization of the ECOWAS Standby Force, logistics sustainability, and enhanced interoperability among armed forces.
Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security reaffirmed the Commission’s support for activating a 5,000-personnel regional counter-terrorism brigade, beginning with a 1,650-personnel rapid deployment capacity. This initiative, endorsed by Ministers of Defence and Finance, reflects a decisive shift toward strengthening collective deterrence and rapid response capabilities.
The meeting also reviewed progress toward operationalizing the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone, expected to serve as a critical hub for the rapid deployment and sustainment of regional peace support operations.
West Africa’s security landscape remains volatile. Terrorism continues to expand in scope and geographical reach, exploiting fragile border regions and socio-economic vulnerabilities. This threat is compounded by transnational organised crime, illicit arms trafficking, cyber-enabled disinformation, piracy, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Speakers stressed that terrorism anywhere in the region constitutes a threat everywhere, and no single state, regardless of capacity, can confront these challenges in isolation. ECOWAS’ strength lies in unity of purpose, intelligence sharing, joint planning, and coordinated action.
Maritime security was also emphasised. With over 90 percent of regional trade transported by sea, safeguarding the Gulf of Guinea is both a security imperative and an economic necessity.
Chiefs of Naval Staff recently convened in Accra, Ghana, to advance plans for a combined maritime task force and improved maritime domain awareness, according to Dr. Musah.
Beyond military considerations, delegates acknowledged that sustainable peace requires democratic governance and socio-economic stability. Terrorist networks and unconstitutional changes of government threaten not only physical security, but also democratic progress achieved across the region. Security responses, therefore, must remain anchored in constitutional order, human rights, and the rule of law. Military action alone cannot defeat extremism; it must be complemented by preventive diplomacy, early warning mechanisms, counter-radicalisation initiatives, and development programs addressing poverty, marginalisation, and youth unemployment.
Sierra Leone’s own transformation from civil conflict to stable democracy was cited as evidence that peace is achievable through institutional reform, professional security forces, and regional solidarity.
The Deputy Minister of Defence of Sierra Leone, Colonel (Rtd) Muana Brima Massaquoi, formally declared the meeting open on behalf of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, who currently serves as Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government. He described Lieutenant General Bangura’s appointment as a defining moment for the RSLAF and a testament to the confidence placed in Sierra Leone by member states.
National Security Coordinator Abdulai Caulker echoed this sentiment, emphasising the importance of civil-military cooperation and inter-agency coordination in addressing contemporary security threats.
As Sierra Leone takes the helm of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff, expectations are high. The region faces significant challenges, including terrorism, maritime insecurity, geopolitical shifts, and threats to constitutional governance challenges that demand unity, preparedness, and decisive collective action.
