The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stated that it needs 2.6 Mln dollars to build a 5,000-strong security force and allocate an additional 481 Mln dollars for 1,500 men to fight terrorism in the region, said defense officials at a meeting on Thursday in Abuja, Nigeria.
Coup-hit West Africa is grappling with an array of political issues, which have hampered regional collaboration. Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, all headed by the military, chose to leave the 15-member Union in January.
Since 2020, troops in three nations have staged coups, accusing civilian governments of allowing Islamist extremists to gain a foothold.
Once in power, the Junta revoked defense treaties with the US, France, and the United Nations, inviting the Russian military to take their place.