ECOWAS to Deploy AI and Advanced Tech in Fight Against Terrorism and Insecurity

ECOWAS to Deploy AI and Advanced Tech in Fight Against Terrorism and Insecurity

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is set to integrate cutting-edge technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and drones, into its counter-terrorism and peacekeeping operations.

Air Commodore Sampson Eyekosi, Chairman of the governmental experts’ validation meeting on logistics and depot policies for the ECOWAS Standby Force, revealed this during the closing ceremony of the meeting in Abuja on Friday.

The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to refine logistics strategies for Peace Support Operations (PSO) and enhance the efficiency of the ECOWAS Standby Force in addressing security threats across West Africa.

Eyekosi disclosed that the proposal to integrate advanced technology into regional security operations would be presented for ratification by ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in March.

“We want to leverage technology and fight against terrorism, insurgency, and other threats we see, even climate change. We need technology such as artificial intelligence, drones, and other forms of technology.

“We need to harness them as much as possible, working as a whole of the community, bringing our expertise, early warning, humanitarian issues, youth and women, everybody having a part to play so that we can ensure peace and security,” he said.

Eyekosi also emphasized the need for ECOWAS to rely on locally sourced military equipment rather than depending on foreign imports.

“For example, in Nigeria, we talk about CNG. We can use green and renewable energy so that we have less carbon footprints even when we deploy. We don’t go and pollute the place because we are operating there.

“Our vehicles can run on gas during operations, our cooking, and our energy needs it. So it’s interlinked in one way or the other. Weapons, of course, Daikon is there, but remember, it is tied to each country. You cannot force your weapon on any other person. But when we deploy with our own equipment that we produce locally, our vehicle manufacturing companies of various types, we can buy from them and deploy with them weapons and food and everything. We need all the logistics. We need to tap from what we have first rather than importing from different countries. We can’t rely on them. We must rely on ourselves.”

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Eyekosi noted that securing adequate funding for these initiatives remains a top priority. He encouraged ECOWAS to explore alternative funding sources, including private sector contributions, to sustain counter-terrorism and peace operations.

“Essential issues are about funding because you know everything centers around money. So one of the resolutions is encouraging the Commission on options to raise funds, bringing in the private sector, encouraging member states to be able to support logistics that are required for operations.

“Member states contributing, the private sector contributing, and harnessing our abilities, not waiting for other parties to come and support us. Of course, we’ll still partner with them, but we must take ownership. We must take charge. Peace and security is first our responsibility. We must play our part before we expect others to support us.”

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The discussions also focused on finalizing plans for the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone, which is expected to enhance peacekeeping capabilities across the region.

Eyekosi stressed the importance of collaborative efforts, involving governments, security agencies, and the media, to ensure the success of these security initiatives.

“We need to work together, and this is what we are doing. The Standby Force has planning elements of this mixture. So you must have your head, your organization in place first, and you start working a process.

“There’s a roadmap, which this is one of which we have achieved the documentation. In Sierra Leone, there’s infrastructure in place now. The depot has been completed. We need to finance it. We need to equip it. We need to commission it formally so that it gets operationalized.”

With the increasing security challenges in West Africa, ECOWAS leaders are under pressure to ensure that these technological advancements translate into tangible improvements in regional stability and peacekeeping efforts.