401 terrorist incidents recorded in five months, 448 vacant positions, and nearly 600 million units of account in arrears: these figures reflect the severity of the financial and security crisis facing West Africa. To address it, General Birame Diop is taking the helm of the ECOWAS Commission with a four-year action plan. From maintaining dialogue with the three countries of the Alliance of Sahel States to mobilizing USD 481 million for the future counterterrorism brigade, the challenge promises to be a complex one. The new leadership will have to turn these financial and security emergencies into concrete results for the population by 2027.
In Abuja, Nigeria, General Birame Diop has taken the helm of the ECOWAS Commission with a four-year roadmap. His ambition is to strengthen regional integration, revive cooperation, and bring the organization closer to the people. But the new president takes charge of a Community reduced to 12 member states following the departure of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. With dialogue with the Confederation of Sahel States, security, the Eco common currency project, and funding all on the agenda, the first months of his mandate will already be decisive.
The guidance we have received from the highest authorities is to respect the sovereign decision taken by the three countries, while keeping the door open so that, together, we can explore and make use of every opportunity available to both sides, in an effort to cooperate as closely as possible.
Birame Diop, President of the ECOWAS Commission
Security will be one of the main tests of his mandate. As armed groups expand and threats move closer to coastal countries, regional coordination remains a major challenge. Intelligence-sharing, border control, and cooperation among security forces are among the priority issues. On the economic front, Senegalese senior military officer and politician Birame Diop also wants to accelerate the free movement of people and goods. The aim is to facilitate trade and make regional policies more tangible for local populations.
I have looked at the situation, and there are already more than 50 programmes that have been developed and are ready to be implemented. So, we must give ourselves the means to put them into action. Ultimately, we must also take into account all the security pressures we are facing. This is extremely important. To tackle all these challenges, which are clearly complex, we need a Commission that is committed, a Commission that stands together, and a Commission that is moving in the same direction because it has established a vision that provides it with a clear roadmap. If implemented thoughtfully, this roadmap could enable us to fully address these challenges and achieve results that may even exceed our expectations.
Birame Diop, President of the ECOWAS Commission
Six priorities, four years in office, and already several major deadlines ahead. By the end of 2026, Senegalese General Birame Diop will notably have to advance dialogue with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, brought together within the AES, with a framework agreement expected in the fourth quarter. In 2027, the common currency project, the Eco, and the 1,650-member counterterrorism brigade will have to reach a new stage. This force will require estimated annual funding of 481.46 million dollars. But the new leadership will also have to tackle 595.69 million units of account in community arrears and fill 448 vacant positions within the Commission. These financial and institutional challenges are added to an ongoing worrying security situation, with 401 terrorist incidents recorded between January and May 2026.
