FREETOWN — Brigadier General Sheik Sulaiman Massaquoi has been appointed Chief of Staff of the ECOWAS Standby Force, becoming the first Sierra Leonean to hold the position in the regional security body.
The appointment places Brig. Gen. Massaquoi at the centre of operational leadership for the ECOWAS Standby Force, a multinational rapid-deployment mechanism created in 2004 to respond to security threats including military takeovers, armed insurgencies, terrorism and humanitarian emergencies across West Africa.
As Chief of Staff, he will be responsible for coordinating operational planning, logistics and joint activities among member states contributing troops to the force, which has previously been deployed in countries such as Mali and Guinea-Bissau during periods of instability.
Brig. Gen. Massaquoi brings close to 30 years of service in the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces to the role. Since enlisting in 1994, he has held several senior command and strategic positions, including Director of Military Intelligence, Chief of Operations, Commandant of the Joint Logistics Unit and Assistant Chief of Defence Staff in charge of Logistics and Equipment Support.
In addition to his operational background, he has an extensive academic and professional training profile, with advanced qualifications in military and strategic security studies from institutions in Bangladesh and the United States, as well as academic credentials from Fourah Bay College.
His elevation comes at a time when ECOWAS is facing mounting security and political challenges across the sub-region.
Analysts say the appointment also signals Sierra Leone’s growing profile in regional peacekeeping and diplomacy, particularly under the administration of President Julius Maada Bio, which has emphasized regional cooperation and international engagement.
Observers note that Brig. Gen. Massaquoi’s appointment not only marks a personal milestone but also underscores Sierra Leone’s expanding role in shaping collective security efforts in West Africa.
