The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Committee of Chiefs of Defense Staff (CCDS) will meet on Monday to consider modalities for the deployment of troops to Guinea-Bissau and Mali, a statement by the regional bloc has said.

According to the statement made available to Xinhua on Saturday, the move is part of ECOWAS response to the increased security challenges in the region.

"Those who will participate at the one-day meeting include the heads of the Gendarmerie and police forces from Burkina Faso and Nigeria," the statement disclosed, adding that others expected at the meeting include the special representatives of the president of the ECOWAS Commission in Guinea-Bissau and the force commander of the ECOWAS Mission to Guinea-Bissau (ECOMIB).

"The meeting is expected to update preparations for the deployment of troops in Guinea-Bissau and Mali," it stated further, explaining that the current status of the separatist rebellion in the north of Mali will also be discussed.

Saying the meeting will also consider issues relating to ECOWAS Mission to Mali and the units proposed for the reconstituted force of 3,000 troops, the statement hinted that the force commander of the ECOMIB is expected to make presentations to the committee on the force.

The committee of defense chiefs are also expected to participate in the Nigeria Armed Forces military equipment exhibition that will hold in northwest Nigeria's Kaduna State on Tuesday, according to the statement.

The ECOWAS heads of state had authorized the deployment of ECOWAS Mission to both countries in May.