AYV News, March 2, 2026
Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, has proposed the establishment of a Regional Defence Academy aimed at strengthening military cooperation and professional training across West Africa.
The proposal was made during the 44th Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDS), which commenced in Freetown at a time of evolving and complex security challenges within the sub-region.
Representing President Julius Maada Bio, Dr. Jalloh addressed the gathering of top military commanders from all 15 member states of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), highlighting what he described as a “shifting landscape” of threats ranging from terrorism and violent extremism to transnational organized crime.
At the core of the Vice President’s vision is the creation of a “Centre of Excellence” that would harmonise the training of young officers across ECOWAS member states.
According to Dr. Jalloh, the academy would go beyond tactical and operational instruction to foster long-term professional relationships among the region’s future military leaders.
“Such an institution would stand as a powerful symbol of regional integration and shared security responsibility,” Dr. Jalloh stated. “It would bring together young officers from across the sub-region to train, learn, and build bonds of trust.”
He emphasised that strengthened interoperability and shared doctrine are critical in responding effectively to cross-border security threats that no single nation can tackle alone.
The high-level meeting also marked a notable transition in regional military leadership, as Sierra Leone’s Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Amara Idara Bangura, assumed the chairmanship of the CCDS. His appointment places Sierra Leone at the forefront of coordinating collective defence and security strategies within the ECOWAS framework.
Vice President Jalloh expressed appreciation to the visiting defence chiefs for what he described as their steadfast dedication to safeguarding democracy, peace, and stability across West Africa.
The proposed Regional Defence Academy will now be subject to further deliberation by the Committee as part of broader efforts to enhance the ECOWAS security architecture.
Observers note that if approved, the academy could become a landmark institution in advancing regional military integration and reinforcing collective security mechanisms in West Africa.
