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Defense and Security

Defense and Security: Expert analysis on regional stability, counter-terrorism efforts, and maritime security within the West African corridor.

Defense and Security

ECOWAS Defence Chiefs Chair Handover Takes Delegation to Abuja

By Kabir Isa

The outgoing and incoming chairs of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff visited Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff in Abuja on 13 October 2026 as the committee's leadership passed from Sierra Leone to Senegal. Lieutenant General Amara Idara Bangoura and Vice Admiral Oumar Wade sought continued Nigerian support for the committee's work. General O. O. Oloyede commended the outgoing chair and pledged support to his successor.

Defense and Security

ECOWAS Commission Holds Handover Session as Defence Chiefs Committee Chair Changes Hands

By Kabir Isa

The ECOWAS Commission held a working session with its Committee of the Chiefs of Defence Staff in Abuja on 12 October 2026 to take stock of responsibilities tied to the change of baton from an outgoing to an incoming chair. Commission President General Birame Diop stressed the need for cohesion in the fight against terrorism, which he described as transnational and requiring a community-wide strategy. Lt Gen Amara Idara Bangoura of Sierra Leone is handing over to Vice Admiral Oumar Wade of Senegal.

Defense and Security

ECOWAS Standby Force Chief, Nigerian Navy Chief Meet in Abuja on Maritime Security

By Kabir Isa

The Chief of Staff of the ECOWAS Standby Force, Brigadier General Sheikh Sulaiman Massaquoi, paid a courtesy call on Nigerian Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Idi Abbas at Naval Headquarters in Abuja on 11 September 2026. The two sides discussed regional security, maritime cooperation, strategic mobility and logistics support, with the naval chief calling for stronger regional maritime cooperation and sustained efforts to keep the ECOWAS Standby Force operationally ready.

Defense and Security

ECOWAS Standby Force Chief of Staff Meets Nigerian Army Chief in Abuja

By Kabir Isa

Brigadier General Sheikh Massaquoi, Chief of Staff of the ECOWAS Standby Force, paid a courtesy call on Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, in Abuja on September 30, 2026. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between the ECOWAS Commission's military component and the Nigerian Army in areas including regional security, operational readiness, training and logistics support.

Defense and Security

Berm: How Morocco’s 2,700km Desert Wall Still Shapes Western Sahara Conflict

By Kabir Isa

Morocco's Berm, a 2,700-kilometre barrier built between 1980 and 1987, still divides Western Sahara and marks the de facto front line of an unresolved conflict. Researchers linked to a University of Porto project describe three overlooked dangers: a vast minefield, an ecological trap drawing wildlife toward explosives, and the disruption of Sahrawi pastoral routes.

Defense and Security

Houthi Expansion on Yemen’s Red Sea Coast Puts African States at Risk

By Kabir Isa

Houthi forces have seized key positions along Yemen's Red Sea coast, including the port of Mokha and several islands near the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The expansion threatens shipping through a chokepoint that carries about 12% of global maritime trade and poses economic and security risks for Egypt, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan.

Defense and Security

ECOWAS Trains Nigerian Security Personnel on Weapons Stockpile Management in Port Harcourt

By Kabir Isa

ECOWAS conducted a five-day training on physical security and stockpile management for Nigerian security personnel in Port Harcourt from 7 to 11 September 2026. The programme, held with the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies and Nigeria's national small arms centre, drew participants from twelve agencies and included a visit to the Nigerian Army's 29 Battalion armoury.

Defense and Security

GIABA Opens Three-Day Investigative Journalism Training in Accra on Financial Crime Reporting

By Kabir Isa

GIABA opened a three-day regional training workshop on investigative journalism covering economic and financial crimes in Accra, Ghana, running from 22 to 24 September 2026. Journalists from across West Africa are attending sessions on financial investigation, open-source intelligence and beneficial ownership analysis. GIABA and Ghana Financial Intelligence Centre officials addressed the opening, with the programme also covering cross-border media networking.

Defense and Security

Senegal and Mauritania Launch Joint River Patrols to Secure Shared Border

By Kabir Isa

Senegal and Mauritania launched their first joint river patrols on August 13, 2026, combining naval infantry with police and gendarmerie forces to secure their shared border. The operation targets high-risk riverine areas like Tassem and Sinthiane Diama, aiming to deter illicit activities while reassuring local communities through visible security presence. This initiative represents a practical escalation of bilateral defense cooperation, moving beyond symbolic agreements into routine, integrated field operations. The key takeaway is that sustained joint patrols, not just occasional exercises, are the effective mechanism for turning border security policy into tangible prevention and public trust.