By Amin Kef (Ranger)

Sierra Leone has recorded another historic milestone on the regional and international stage following the appointment of Brigadier General Sheik Sulaiman Massaquoi as Chief of Staff of the ECOWAS Standby Force, becoming the first Sierra Leonean officer to ever occupy the prestigious position.

The landmark appointment, which follows a rigorous competitive selection process, was supported by the nomination of President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, alongside the Chief of Defence Staff, Idara Bangura. It marks a proud moment for Sierra Leone and underscores the country’s growing influence within the regional security architecture of the Economic Community of West African States.

As Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Sheik Sulaiman Massaquoi will be responsible for operational planning, logistics coordination and strategic oversight of the ECOWAS Standby Force ;  a multinational, brigade-sized rapid deployment force established in 2004 under the ECOWAS Protocol on Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security. The force is mandated to respond swiftly to crises across the sub-region, including unconstitutional changes of Government, insurgencies, terrorism and humanitarian emergencies.

Over the years, the ECOWAS Standby Force has played key roles in stabilization efforts in countries such as Mali and Guinea-Bissau, drawing troops and resources from member states to promote peace and stability in a region frequently challenged by political instability and violent extremism.  Brigadier General Sheik Sulaiman Massaquoi’s leadership is expected to further strengthen the force’s operational effectiveness at a critical time for the bloc.

Brigadier General Sheik Sulaiman Massaquoi’s journey to this historic role began in 1994 when he enlisted in the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, earning his first commission on June 16, 1995. An alumnus of the prestigious Bo School, he has steadily risen through the ranks, earning a reputation for discipline, professionalism and strategic acumen.

Throughout his three decades of service, he has held numerous command and staff positions, including Platoon Commander, Adjutant, Company Commander, Commanding Officer of Intelligence and Commanding Officer of the 4th Infantry Battalion. He has also served as Chief of Operations, Chief Planning Officer, Chief of Staff, Director of Military Intelligence, Staff Officer at the National Joint Operations Centre, Commandant of the Joint Logistics Unit and Acting Director General of the Sierra Leone Correctional Services.

Currently, prior to his ECOWAS appointment, Brigadier General Sheik Sulaiman Massaquoi served as Assistant Chief of Defence Staff for Logistics and Equipment Support at Defence Headquarters in Freetown, where his expertise in logistics, supply chain management and resource optimization contributed significantly to ongoing reforms and modernization within the RSLAF.

Complementing his operational experience is an impressive academic and professional training portfolio acquired across Africa, Asia and the United States. He completed the Junior Staff Course at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College and the Combat Team Commanders Course at the Ghana Armed Forces Military Training Academy in Accra.

In the United States, he undertook the Basic Military Intelligence Officer Course and the Captain’s Career Military Intelligence Course at the U.S. Army Intelligence Center in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and earned a Diploma in Equal Opportunity Advisory from the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute in Florida. He also specialized in Civil-Military Responses to Terrorism at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.

Brigadier General Sheik Sulaiman Massaquoi further attended the Senior Staff Course at the Defence Services Command and Staff College in Mirpur, Bangladesh, graduating with a Master of Science in Military Studies from the Bangladesh University of Professionals. He also holds a Master of Arts in Strategic Security Studies from the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., and completed the Regional Senior Mission Leaders’ Course at the International Peace Support Training Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

In addition to his military education, he holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Political Science and a Master of Science in Diplomacy and International Relations from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone ;  an academic foundation that has shaped his strong belief in diplomacy as a primary tool for conflict prevention.

On the international front, Brigadier General Sheik Sulaiman Massaquoi served with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), contributing to multinational efforts to combat jihadist threats and protect civilians in one of Africa’s most volatile theatres. His experience in Mali prepared him for the complexities of coordinating multinational forces drawn from ECOWAS’s 15 member states, in line with the African Union’s broader peace and security framework.

Brigadier General Sheik Sulaiman Massaquoi’s appointment comes at a delicate moment for ECOWAS, following the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in 2024 after a series of military coups. As Chief of Staff, he is expected to play a central role in revitalizing the Standby Force, strengthening training and readiness, supporting exercises such as the annual “Durbar” simulations and advocating for sustainable funding through the ECOWAS Peace Fund.

His elevation not only honours his distinguished service but also reflects Sierra Leone’s renewed regional standing under President Bio’s leadership. It reinforces the country’s commitment to collective security and serves as an inspiration to a new generation of military and civilian leaders across the Mano River Union and the wider West African sub-region. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/historic-regional-milestone-sierra-leonean-officer-named-chief-of-staff-of-ecowas-standby-force/