The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched a 5,000-member regional counterterrorism force to tackle the growing influence of jihadist groups, particularly Islamic State’s (IS) affiliate in the Sahel, Voice of America reported.

The initiative, announced by Nigerian Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru Abubakar during ECOWAS’ 43rd security meeting, comes amid escalating violence in West Africa, where extremist activity is spreading beyond traditional conflict zones.

The Sahel has become a focal point of global terrorism, with IS and other jihadist groups exploiting weak governance and political instability. According to the Global Terrorism Index, the region accounted for half of all terror-related fatalities in 2024, marking an almost tenfold increase since 2019.

The security situation has deteriorated further over the past few years following military coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, where instability has facilitated extremist recruitment. Previously concentrated in these three nations, IS in the Sahel is now expanding its operations across the wider region.

"The activation of this force underscores our collective determination to confront the stretch of terrorism with regards to insecurity and ensure the safety and security of our citizens,” Abubakar said, as quoted by Voice of America.

However, the initiative faces significant challenges, including political divisions and logistical constraints. A key obstacle is the recent withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS. The three military-led nations have formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), accusing ECOWAS of failing to address security threats while allegedly serving foreign interests.

This split complicates counterterrorism efforts, as the three departing nations are among the worst affected by extremist violence. Maintaining cooperation between ECOWAS and the AES will be crucial in containing the spread of jihadist groups in the region.