By Olokuta Rofiat
Police chiefs and security experts from ECOWAS member states convened in Abuja on Wednesday to develop a comprehensive roadmap for a regional police force aimed at enhancing peacekeeping and rapid response operations across West Africa.
The initiative, which constitutes the police component of the ECOWAS Peace Support Operations (PSOs), is designed to complement the regional standby military force currently comprising about 1,500 personnel, with plans to expand to 5,000.
Speaking at the opening session, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fattah El Moussa, underscored the urgency of the meeting, highlighting the growing threats of terrorism, transnational organised crime, political instability, and internal conflicts across the region.
El Moussa noted that police structures, working in concert with military and civilian components, are essential in bridging the gap between military intervention and the restoration of sustainable civilian governance in crisis-affected areas.
The meeting is expected to produce a unified framework for police deployment and strengthen coordination among ECOWAS member states during peace support missions.
