does ECOWAS have the means to intervene militarily?

4 mins

At the end of 2022, ECOWAS once again decided to strengthen the organization’s standby forces (FAC). The subject was even raised during the summit in Guinea-Bissau at the beginning of July. According to the preparatory document for this summit that RFI had been able to consult, the heads of state had agreed to reflect on the establishment of a joint military force.

This could occur in two cases, according to observers and participants in the discussions. The first would be during offensive, search and destroy missions to fight against active terrorist groups: this would then involve the protection of civilians in support and in collaboration with local regular armies.

The second scenario of intervention, during which these personnel under the ECOWAS banner could intervene, would be in the event of a threat to the constitutional order. For example, when people try to overthrow the power in place in one of the member countries. It is on this last point that the military operation in Niger, which is not excluded by ECOWAS, could rest.

Few organizational details

For the moment, few details have emerged on this joint force, in particular on its financing. But the objective mentioned at the end of the Bissau summit would be to expect 5,000 men from the ranks of the member countries. Faced with the urgency of certain situations on the ground – the most recent being Niger -, ECOWAS would however like to quickly reach a brigade of 1,650 available soldiers.

For the past ten years, the organization has been planning to breathe new life into the ECOWAS FAC. This has not been successful so far, but discussions on the subject at recent meetings could help things move forward.

However, the issues around funding, equipment and even staffing remain the main sticking points. A meeting on the situation in Niger should take place in the coming days and allow discussion of these subjects.

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Not the first armed arm of ECOWAS

Matured for several years, these FAC are only taking over from a force created in the 1990s at the instigation of Nigeria. At the start of the civil war in Liberia, Ecomog intended to oversee ceasefires and maintain peace, like the UN peacekeepers. Like the latter, the staff of Ecomog are called ” white helmets “.

From its creation, this force was led by Nigeria, which provided it with most of the soldiers, equipment and funding. At the start of the operation in Liberia, Ecomog had around 500 troops, but its ranks swelled rapidly to over 20,000 troops by 1994.

This first intervention is not without criticism. The populations accuse the soldiers, especially Nigerians, of looting, rape and murder. The United Nations will end up implicitly recognizing Ecomog as a fighting faction and subjecting it to an arms embargo.

The memory left by this first Ecomog intervention, which lasted until 1999, is far from encouraging. But that does not prevent ECOWAS from mobilizing this pooled force on other occasions.

Sporadic missions until 2017

In 1997, Ecomog personnel were also sent to Sierra Leone, arriving even before the UN troops. Two years later, in 1999, it was at the request of Guinea-Bissau President Bernardo Vieira that 600 soldiers landed in Bissau: they only stayed there for a few months.

In the same year of 1999, ECOWAS permanently installed Ecomog in its statutes. It is then deployed in Côte d’Ivoire.

In 2004, Ecomog was replaced by the FAC, made up of soldiers, police and civilians. Its workforce intervene in Mali in 2012Then in 2017 in The Gambia.

But for many observers, this task force is at a standstill. The next few days and a possible military reaction could therefore give the armed wing of ECOWAS a new lease of life.

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