Freetown, 26th February 2026 — The ECOWAS Directorate of Peacekeeping and Regional Security (DPKRS), through its Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD), has convened the 44th Meeting of the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff in Freetown, bringing together military leaders from across West Africa to deliberate on pressing security challenges.
The five-day meeting, running from 23 to 27 February, is focused on reviewing strategies to confront terrorism, transnational organized crime, and maritime insecurity. Central to the discussions is the evaluation of the roadmap for activating the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) in its kinetic form to combat terrorism in the sub-region.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Defence Chiefs are expected to undertake a working visit to the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi to assess its operational readiness and capacity to support rapid force deployment.
The gathering comes at a time of heightened tension along the Sierra Leone–Guinea border. On Tuesday, armed personnel of the Guinean Armed Forces (GAF) reportedly crossed into Kalieyereh, Sulima Chiefdom, Falaba District, arresting members of Sierra Leone’s joint security team and transporting them into Guinean territory. Their arms and ammunition were also seized.
As of Thursday, Defence Spokesman Hassan Sei Coomber confirmed to Truth Media that the Sierra Leonean personnel remain in detention, with negotiations ongoing for their unconditional release.
The incident has cast a shadow over the regional security talks, underscoring the urgency of collective action and cooperation among ECOWAS member states to safeguard stability and prevent escalation of cross-border disputes.
