Nigeria deploys 86 troops to ECOWAS peace mission in Guinea-Bissau

The Nigerian Army has deployed 86 troops to the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB), reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to regional peace and security and its longstanding role in peace support operations across West Africa.

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In a statement posted across its official social media pages on Saturday, the army explained that the troops, who were deployed as Nigerian Company 5 (NIGCOY 5 ESSMGB), departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, aboard a Nigerian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and arrived safely in Guinea-Bissau to begin their assignment under the ECOWAS mandate.

Before they departed from the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Forward Operating Base in Abuja, the army’s Chief of Operations, Mayirenso Saraso, a major general, urged the personnel to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and operational excellence throughout the mission.

Represented by the Director of Peace Support Operations, MM Idris, a brigadier general, Mr Saraso charged the troops to serve as worthy ambassadors of the army, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the country by faithfully executing their mandate, respecting the laws and customs of the host nation, and maintaining zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, substance abuse, indiscipline and the irresponsible use of social media.

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The army said the deployment highlights Nigeria’s continued commitment to regional stability and its leadership in ECOWAS peace support efforts.

It added that it remains one of Africa’s leading contributors to regional and international peacekeeping missions, drawing on decades of service under ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations.

According to the army, the latest deployment reflects Nigeria’s strategic role in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and post-conflict stabilisation across the continent through the professionalism and resilience of its peacekeepers.

Background

The ESSMGB was established to support security sector reforms and help preserve political stability in Guinea-Bissau following years of political crises and repeated military interventions.

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The mission succeeded the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ECOMIB), which had been deployed after the 2012 coup, and forms part of the regional bloc’s efforts to prevent instability from escalating into wider regional security threats.

Nigeria has consistently been one of the largest troop contributors to ECOWAS peace support operations, providing personnel, logistics and leadership for missions across West Africa, including Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.

The latest deployment comes as ECOWAS faces growing security and political challenges across West Africa, including military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, as well as persistent jihadist violence in the Sahel.

While Guinea-Bissau has largely avoided the scale of violence seen elsewhere in the region, ECOWAS continues to maintain a stabilisation presence to support constitutional order and deter potential security disruptions.