China pledges to support ECOWAS Standby Force

The Deputy Chief of Foreign Affairs in China’s Ministry of National Defence, Major General Hu Changming, has declared the country’s intention to foster cooperation with ECOWAS in improving the effectiveness of the regional security architecture, particularly the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF).

The visiting deputy chief said during a courtesy call on the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mrs. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman, in Abuja, that the support would help address the logistic and capacity development needs of the ESF.

This is according to a statement made available, on Tuesday, by the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja.

Under the regional security architecture, the ESF consists of dedicated units in the armed forces of ECOWAS Member States that could be deployed as an initial response to crisis in the region.

Changming, who was at the Commission as part of a week-long tour of Africa, praised ECOWAS for its remarkable effort in promoting peace and security in the region including the ongoing ECOWAS mission in Guinea Bissau and recently in Mali where some 6,000 strong African-led force (AFISMA) was replaced in July 2013 by MINUSMA, a UN force.

He also discussed areas of cooperation with Commissioner Suleiman, who stressed the value of improving the logistic and capacity needs of the ESF as well as the construction of its permanent Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria in order to enhance its effectiveness.


Source: Telegraph

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