ECOWAS chiefs to meet in Accra

The ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff will hold its 34th Ordinary Session between September 9-11, 2014 in Accra, Ghana, to review the general security situation in the region and determine adequate responses.

During the meeting under the theme “Strengthening ECOWAS Military Cooperation for Peace, Stability and Development,” the regional defence chiefs will among other issues, be briefed on the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa, which the regional Mediation and Security Council at its last meeting in March, characterised as a security threat to the region.

The deadly disease has claimed more than 1,900 lives from the more than 3,000 cases reported in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal.

A statement by the ECOWAS Commission on Monday in Abuja said the CCDS meeting would also receive an update on the security situation in Northern Nigeria, where the Boko Haram sect had been engaged in deadly terrorist attacks and kidnappings.

“In addition, the meeting will also consider the Status Report on the ECOWAS Standby Force as well as receive updates on the new Peace Support Operation Division, the operationalisation of the Maritime Model Zone E, the Defence and the Security Sector Reform Programme in Guinea Bissau, as well as review the mandate of the ECOWAS Mission in that country,” the statement said.