ECOWAS defence chiefs in Ghana over Boko Haram, Ebola

The Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, will today meet in Ghana for its 34th Ordinary Session to review the general security situation in the sub-region and determine adequate responses.

A statement issued by the commission’s spokesperson, Sunny Ugoh, in Abuja, said the regional defence chiefs will among other issues, discuss the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa, which is a security threat to the region.

Ebola disease has claimed over 2000 lives from the more than 3,000 cases reported in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal.

The CCDS meeting, which ends Thursday will also receive an update on the security situation in Northern Nigeria, where the Boko Haram sect has been waging relentless deadly terrorist attacks and kidnappings.

The statement stated that the meeting would also consider the Status Report on the ECOWAS Standby Force and receive updates on the new Peace Support Operation Division.

Other considerations would be on the operation of the Maritime Model Zone E and the Defence and Security Sector Reform Programme (DSSRP) in Guinea-Bissau.

The statement stated that the meeting would also review the mandate of ECOWAS Mission also in Guinea-Bissau.