Concord Times (Freetown)
4 December 2008
The ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council has recommended measures to strengthen the security apparatus in Guinea Bissau and protect the President and national institutions in the country.
The recommendations, which were made at the end of the Council's meeting on 2nd December 2008 in Ouagadougou, followed a briefing by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, on the high-powered fact-finding mission despatched to Guinea Bissau after the assasination attempt on the country's democratically elected President, Joao Bernado Vieira 'Nino' on 23rd November 2008.
The Council also received briefings from the Foreign Affairs Minister of Guinea Bissau, Madam Mariada da Conceicao Nobre Cabral, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General in Guinea Bissau (UNOGBIS), Ambassador Shola Omoregie, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for West Africa, Ambassador said Djinnit and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation of Burkina Faso, Madam Minata Samate Cessouma, who were part of the mission to Guinea Bissau.
While condemning the assasination attempt, the Council which comprises Ministers of Foreign Affairs of ECOWAS Member States, agreed to protect the fledling democracy in Guinea Bissau by supporting the on-going democratization process through the direct involvement of ECOWAS.
In addition, the ministers expressed support for the investigation initiated by the authorities of Guinea Bissau and pledged to despatch a team of experts to assist in the investigation with a view to determining those involved in the assasination attempt as well as the causes of the persistent instability in the country.
The ministers also undertook to relaunch the reform of the defence and security sector. In this regard, they said ECOWAS, the CPLP and the United Nations, in collaboration with the European Union, should propose a costed implementation plan for the reform and thereafter organize a donors' roundtable to mobilize resources for the reform process.
In addition, they called on the UN Secretary General to help provide technical assistance for the training of the security forces of Guinea Bissau in order to strengthen the protection of key personalities and national institutions including the Presidency, the Prime Minister's office and the National Assembly.
They appealed to the Guinea Bissau authorities to draw lessons from the 16th November 2008 legislative elections by immediately putting in place the new National Assembly and the new government so as to reactivate normal political activities, among other objectives.
While committing themselves to assisting the Government of Guinea Bissau, the ministers also decided to relaunch an appeal to the international community to fulfill its commitments to Guinea Bissau as recommended by the International Contact Group on Guinea Bissau (ICG-GB).
The consolidation of democracy in the region also featured highly in the ministers meeting. They expressed satisfaction over the successful elections organized this year in Benin, Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau, and likewise expressed confidence over the steps taken by Ghana to ensure transparency in its 7th December 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections. It will be the fifth consecutive time that Ghana will be holding democratic elections since 1992.
On Cote d'Ivoire, the meeting declared that the peace process in that country is irreversible and called on all stakeholders to take the necessary steps to address the challenges posed by identification and registration of voters, among others.
Also strategic in the ministers meeting was the recommendation to the Heads of State for adoption of the Political Declaration on the Prevention of Drug Abuse, Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime in West Africa and the Regional Plan of Action. Both documents are part of the conclusions of a high profile ministerial conference held in Praia late October 2008 and they are expected to provide the desired commitment to, and the strategies for, combating the drug phenomenon which now poses a security threat to the region.
The one-day meeting of the Council directed the ECOWAS Commission to expedite action for the development of a naval strategy to deal with threats to security in the Gulf of Guinea. The directive was sequel to the ministers call at their June 2008 meeting following concerns expressed by some Member States on recent seaborne attacks.
On the situation in northern Mali and Niger, the ministers endorsed the recommendations from a ministerial meeting held in Bamako on 11th November 2008 organized in preparation for the regional conference of Heads of State and Government on security, peace and development of the Sahel-Sahara band. These include strengthening of bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation, strengthening of security and cross-border cooperation, especially through the organization of simultaneous and joint patrols as well as initiating actions in the area of food, health, education, training and job creation.
While considering issues relating to the West African Police Chiefs Committee (WAPCO), the meeting called on the ECOWAS Commission to ensure the inclusion of all relevant national security agencies in their task of fighting cross-border crimes and endorsed the initiative for consultations with the Ministers of Justice and Security in this regard.
The ministers noted with satisfaction the development of statutes and a plan of action which will govern the operations of the Council of the Wise. The legal texts are expected to enhance the performance of this mediation organ, which is one of ECOWAS' instruments for preventive diplomacy.
Also, the Council urged Member States to ratify the Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Their Ammunition and Other Related Materials without further delay to enable it come into force in the first quarter of 2009.
On the establishment of a Logistics Facility in Freetown, the ministers directed the ECOWAS Commission to take necessary measures for funds allocation and administrative management of the depot and to continue negotiations with the United States Government in relation to the transfer of the US Murrytown depot in Freetown to ECOWAS.
At the opening, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, gave an overview of the security situation in the region, notably in Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and the northern parts of Mali and Niger where he said appreciable progress has been made towards ensuring stability.
While disclosing that Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea and Guinea Bissau have each received 500,000 U.S. dollars from ECOWAS in support of the electoral process in those countries, Dr. Chambas expressed the hope that the relevant authorities would strive to meet the aspirations of the people through the promotion of transparency, accountability and the rule of law.
He said ECOWAS would not tolerate any derailment of the peace process in the region and warned 'would-be spoilers' - notably in the Liberia, a post-conflict country where remarkable progress has been recorded - who might be tempted to exploit current economic difficulties, that 'ECOWAS and the international community would respond swiftly and decisively to any acts of provocation'.
Dr. Chambas was optimistic that there were bright prospects to the achievement of economic development through regional integration and attributed this optimism to the democratic consolidation being realised through fair and transparent elections in Member States.
However, he expressed concern over the global economic and financial crises as well as what he described as 'an unfavourable international trade system' that could undermine the region's economic and political achievements.
He also noted the increasing youth crisis epitomized by lack of educational and job opportunities, irregular migration as well as the challenge of drug abuse and illicit trafficking which constitute a major threat to the effective functioning of human societies
Dr. Chambas stated that the ECOWAS Commission has taken some bold steps to address these challenges.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation of Burkina Faso and Chairman of the Mediation and Security Council, Mr. Bedouma Alain Yoda who also addressed the meeting, restated taht for ECOWAS, the consolidation of democracy remains a priority as well as a challenge that should be overcome.
While reviewing the security situation in the region, Mr. Yoda recalled the peace initiatives of President Blaise Compaore and Chairman of ECOWAS in Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea and Guinea Bissau and acknowledged the significant progress made in relation to peace, security, stability and democracy.
He called on the authorities to continue in their efforts to support peace, security and democracy for the well-being of the citizens of the Community, advising that West African leaders should exploit their own capabilities in addressing regional concerns even while they seek the assistance of the international community.
Mr. Yoda paid a special tribute to the Heads of State and Government for their relentless efforts at promoting regional peace and stability.
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