Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, raised alarms over the significant disruption caused by the withdrawal of the Alliance of Sahel States from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
He warned that the decision, along with Chad’s planned pullout from the Multinational Joint Task Force, could severely hamper the ability of the joint security force to carry out critical operations.
Speaking at a review meeting with Field Commanders in Abuja, Air Marshal Abubakar highlighted the growing threat posed by terrorist groups, citing an attack in Damboa last year in which drones carrying locally fabricated grenades were used in a kamikaze attack on troops.
He stressed that such incidents underscore the increasing efforts by terrorists to develop and deploy drone technology in their attacks.
The CAS emphasized the urgent need for a robust and integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (C-UAV) system to protect both personnel and air assets in the region.
The situation unfolded following the recognition by ECOWAS, on January 29, 2025, of the exit of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the bloc, effective after a one-year notice period.
In a gesture of regional solidarity, ECOWAS has agreed to allow its member countries to continue recognizing the national passports of the three departing nations, provided they bear the ECOWAS logo, pending further developments.
The withdrawal of these three junta-led countries has significantly fractured the region, casting uncertainty on the future of the ECOWAS framework.
In January 2024, the Sahelian countries formally announced their decision to leave ECOWAS, citing concerns over the organization’s excessive reliance on France.
This has led to a shift in alliances, with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger increasingly favoring partnerships with countries like Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
The three countries have since formed a new alliance, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), further altering the regional security landscape.
