ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Defense chiefs of West Africa on Thursday proposed an ambitious plan to deploy a 5,000-strong “standby force” to fight the region’s worsening security crises, a measure that analysts say might not work due to challenges of funding and division within the regional bloc.
The plan, which will cost $2.6 billion annually, was proposed to heads of state at a meeting of defense officials in Nigeria's capital of Abuja. The plan was also aimed at preventing further coups following a string of military takeovers that have destabilized the region, Nigeria’s Defense Minister Mohammed Badaru said.
Thursday’s meeting is the first time the bloc is mapping out publicly the financing of its long-talked-about standby force. However, analysts identified challenges it might face, including the shortage of funds from member states required to contribute money and securing the support of coup-hit countries most affected by the security crises.
“More than ever, we are at a pivotal moment in the history of our community to address insecurity,” said Omar Alieu Touray, president of the regional bloc of ECOWAS Commission, as he urged member-states to support the force. Their proposals are expected to be considered at the upcoming summit of the regional heads of state.
The resurgence of coups in West and Central Africa – with four of its nations being run by military governments – has divided the 15-nation ECOWAS and destabilized the region, especially the coup-hit countries of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which are worst-hit by the deadly violence now spreading to coastal nations.
ECOWAS has unsuccessfully tried to return democracies in these countries. Their best shot with now-lifted economic sanctions resulted in the three coup-hit countries withdrawing their membership and opening more windows for Russian mercenaries in the region.
Touray, the ECOWAS commission president, said the bloc invited officials from the coup-hit countries of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to attend Thursday’s meeting and join in forming such a force. It was not immediately clear if the countries would agree to this.
“I don’t think ECOWAS has the capacity to launch military interventions without foreign assistance,” said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
Such a standby force can only work if ECOWAS gets the commitment of all its member states and if the bloc maps out a strategy to deal with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, said Kars de Bruijne, a senior research fellow at the Clingendael Institute think tank.
“Delivering (on such plans) has been the issue with ECOWAS for a long time,” he said.
FILE - The defense chiefs from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries excluding Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea and Niger, pose for a group photo during their extraordinary meeting in Accra, Ghana, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. Defense chiefs of West Africa on Thursday, June 27, 2024, proposed a $2.6 billion plan to fight the region’s worsening security crises, a measure that analysts say though ambitious might not work due to challenges of funding and division within the regional bloc. (AP Photo/Richard Eshun Nanaresh), File)
BALTIMORE (AP) — Rookie Heston Kjerstad hit a fifth-inning grand slam to put Baltimore ahead for good, and the Orioles held off the Texas Rangers 6-5 on Saturday night for their fourth straight victory.
Baltimore trailed 2-1 before using a double and two walks to load the bases for Kjerstad, who sent a 1-1 pitch from Michael Lorenzen (4-4) over the center-field wall. It was the fourth career homer and first slam for Kjerstad, the No. 2 pick in the 2020 draft.
Anthony Santander also homered for the Orioles, who took a one-game lead in the AL East over the New York Yankees. Baltimore has hit 60 home runs in June, an Orioles record for most in one month.
Corey Seager, Derek Hill, Nathan Lowe and Adolis García went deep for the Rangers, who have lost six straight for the second time this season.
Seager left in the fifth inning after being struck by a pitch on his left wrist thrown by rookie Cade Povich. The Rangers said X-rays on the wrist were negative, and the four-time All-Star will be re-evaluated on Sunday.
The defending World Series champions have dropped eight in a row on the road. Texas is nine games below .500 (37-46) for the first time since the end of the 2022 season.
Povich (1-2) allowed two runs and five hits in five innings to earn his first major league victory.
Texas closed to 5-4 when Lowe hit a two-run drive off Bryan Baker in the sixth, but Santander tacked on an RBI double in the seventh.
After García hit his team-leading 16th homer for Texas in the eighth, the Rangers put two on with two outs before Jonah Heim's deep fly to center was hauled in at the warning track.
Craig Kimbrel retired García on a flyball with two runners on in the ninth to end the Rangers' comeback bid and earn his 19th save.
Santander offset Seager's first-inning solo shot with one of his own leading off the second, his 22nd of the season and 13th in June.
Hill put Texas up 2-1 in the fourth with his first homer since 2022 and only his fifth in 299 career at-bats.
One inning later, Kjerstad thrilled the sellout crowd with his momentum-shifting grand slam. Soon after reaching the dugout, the 25-year-old put his blond curls on display by doffing his cap in response to a request for a curtain call.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer was in good spirits less than 24 hours after pitching into the sixth inning on Friday night in his second start since returning from the IL. He had been sidelined by back, thumb and shoulder issues. “I'm feeling much better. My thumb is getting where it needs to be,” Scherzer said Saturday. “It's been miserable these past two months. My radial nerve has been really bad, too. I don't want to get too far ahead of myself on this, but it does feel like I'm starting to turn the corner.” ... 3B Josh Jung, who has been on the injured list since April 2 with a fractured wrist, was supposed to take batting practice on Saturday. But the Rangers decided to push that back a few days because the injury “hasn't quite calmed down yet,” manager Bruce Bochy said.
Orioles: C Adley Rutschman returned to the lineup after sitting out Friday's game with a finger injury from when he was struck by a foul ball Thursday night. ... 2B Jordan Westburg was back after missing Friday's game with a sore knee. ... OF Austin Hays missed a fourth straight game after hurting his knee on the warning track Tuesday against Cleveland.
UP NEXT
Baltimore will try to complete a four-game sweep on Sunday night, when Texas LHP Andrew Heaney (2-9, 4.17 ERA) starts against Cole Irvin (6-4, 3.74 ERA).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Cade Povich, left, looks on after surrendering a solo home run to Texas Rangers' Corey Seage, right,r during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Texas Rangers' Corey Seager watches his solo home run off Baltimore Orioles pitcher Cade Povich during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Texas Rangers pitcher Michael Lorenzen throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Cade Povich throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Texas Rangers center fielder Derek Hill makes a diving catch on a ball hit by Baltimore Orioles' Adley Rutschman during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Texas Rangers' Corey Seager, right, is greeted by Josh Smith (8) after hitting a solo home run off Baltimore Orioles pitcher Cade Povich during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Baltimore Orioles' Anthony Santander, right, celebrates with Jordan Westburg (11) after hitting a solo home run off Texas Rangers pitcher Michael Lorenzen during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
