Brigadier-General Lang Tombong Tamba, Chief of Defence Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces, has joined his counterparts in an ongoing Ecowas security chiefs meeting in Liberia.

At the meeting, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf,  assured Ecowas Chiefs of Defence Staff that Liberia's terrritory will not be used to destabilise the sub-region. She says she believes that true security is achieved by responding to the needs of the people.
She also thanked Ecowas for agreeing to have the sub-region's Chiefs of Defence Staff meeting held in the country, describing it as a signal that Liberia has been accepted by other countries in the sub-region. 

The President spoke recently at the Foreign Ministry when Chiefs of Defence Staff of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) paid a courtesy call on her.
The delegation was accompanied by Defence Minister Brownie Samukai. The Ecowas military chiefs are currently in Liberia to attend the Ecowas Conference for sub-regional Chiefs of Defence Staff. Speaking on the setting up of the sub-regional stand-by force, the Liberian leader commended the military chiefs for the initiative and stressed the need to focus on preventing and not only intervening in conflicts.

Speaking on the United States Africa Military Command (AFRICOM), President Johnson-Sirleaf said she believes that it is tied towards Africa's ability to take charge of its responsibilities. She added that it is also aimed at having Africa participate in decisions which affect the continent.

She assured the Ecowas Chiefs that the present African political leadership is very strong and has the will to advocate issues in favour of the continent. The Liberian leader said she was looking forward to the Ecowas Chiefs' view on AFRICOM. 

Speaking on behalf of the military chiefs, the Chief of Defence Staff of Burkina Faso, Gen. Ali Traore, congratulated President Johnson-Sirleaf for receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the United States.

He revealed that Ecowas Military Chiefs discussed the setting up of an Ecowas Stand-By Force, as well as the security situation in the sub-region. He emphasised that a task force of 2700 people are being gathered, adding that troops are being prepared for initial training. Gen. Traore further informed the President that the Ecowas military chiefs hope to set up the main battalion in 2010.

He noted that there is general restoration of peace in the region and that countries experiencing conflicts are now stabilised.

He observed that a lot of progress has been made in countries previously riddled with conflict. Also present at the meeting were the Ecowas Ambassador to Liberia, Ansumana Cisse and the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) Commanding General, Gen. Abdulrahman.