The Nigerian Army has dispatched 86 troops to join the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB), reinforcing Nigeria’s dedication to maintaining peace and security across West Africa.
The troops, officially designated as Nigerian Company 5 (NIGCOY 5 ESSMGB), departed from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on August 1, aboard a Nigerian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft. Upon arrival in Guinea-Bissau, they began their mission under the ECOWAS mandate.
Before their departure, Major General Mayirenso Saraso, Chief of Operations, addressed the troops at the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Forward Operating Base in Abuja. Represented by Brigadier General M.M. Idris, Saraso emphasized the importance of professionalism, discipline, and operational excellence during their deployment. He urged the personnel to act as ambassadors of Nigeria and to adhere to the laws and customs of Guinea-Bissau, stressing a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation, substance abuse, and indiscipline.
This deployment underscores Nigeria’s significant role in ECOWAS peace support initiatives and highlights its ongoing contribution to both regional and international peacekeeping operations in collaboration with ECOWAS, the African Union, and the United Nations. It reflects Nigeria’s commitment to conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and post-conflict stabilization efforts across Africa.
The ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau was established to aid in security sector reforms and to ensure political stability following prolonged political crises. This mission follows the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ECOMIB), which was initiated after the 2012 coup. Nigeria has a history of leading ECOWAS operations, providing troops and logistics for missions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau.
As ECOWAS faces growing security challenges in West Africa, including military coups and insurgent violence, this mission aims to maintain constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau, preventing any potential escalation of instability that could affect the broader region.
