Extraordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State And Government On Cote d'Ivoire

24 December 2010
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Economic Community of West African States (Abuja)
press release

Abuja - Nigeria — FINAL COMMUNIQUE

1. An Extraordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was held on Friday, 24 December 2010 in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria, under the chairmanship of His Excellency Goodluck Ebele JONATHAN, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State, in order to consider latest developments in the political and security situation in Cote d'Ivoire.

2. The following Heads of State or their duly accredited representatives were present at this Session: H. E. Thomas Boni Yayi, President of the Republic of Benin; H. E. Blaise Compaore, President of Burkina Faso; H. E. Pedro Verona Rodrigues Pires, President of the Republic of Cape Verde; H. E. John Evans Atta-Mills, President of the Republic of Ghana; H. E. Malam Bacai Sanhá, President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau; H. E. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia; H. E. Ebele Goodluck Jonathan, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; H. E. Maître Abdoulaye Wade, President of the Republic of Senegal; H. E. Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone; H. E. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe, President of the Togolese Republic; H. E. Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, representing the President of the Republic of the Gambia; H. E. Moctar Ouane, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, representing the President of the Republic of Mali.

3. H. E. General Salou Djibo, Head of State of the Republic of Niger and H. E. Cheick Abdoul CAMARA, Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing the President of the Republic of Guinea, attended by special leave of the Chairman of the Authority as observers.

4. Ambassador Akin Fayomi, Special Representative of the African Union to Liberia, representing the Chairman of the African Union Commission and H. E. Said Djinnit, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in West Africa, also attended as observers.

5. The Authority carefully reviewed the developments in Cote d'Ivoire since its last extraordinary meeting held on 7 December 2010 and the efforts made thus far to seek a solution to the crisis in the country. The Heads of State and Government expressed deep concern over the fast deteriorating political and security environment in Côte d'Ivoire characterized by escalating violence, the use of mercenaries to perpetrate atrocities, loss of life, and the heightening of ethnic tensions, as well as the threat of civil war, with its negative consequences on regional peace and security.

6. They expressed deep concern over the unacceptably high number of lives lost since 7 December 2010 and warned all those responsible that they will face international trial for human rights violations at the earliest opportunity.

7. They reiterated their position of 7 December 2010, especially on the status of Mr. Alassane Ouattara as the legitimate President of Côte d'Ivoire, which is non¬-negotiable. They demanded the immediate and peaceful handover of power by Mr. Laurent Gbagbo to Mr. Alassane Ouattara, in accordance with the expressed wishes of the Ivorian people.

8. The Heads of State and Government expressed their support for the travel ban, freeze on financial assets and all other forms of targeted sanctions imposed by regional institutions and the international community on the out-going President and his associates, and would support any future additional measures that may be taken in this direction.

9. The Heads of State and Government regret the fact that the message sent by the ECOWAS Chairman on behalf of the Authority on 17 December 2010 has not been heeded by Mr. Gbagbo. In this season of peace, the Summit decided to make an ultimate gesture to Mr. Gbagbo by urging him to make a peaceful exit. In this regard, the Authority decided to dispatch a special high-level delegation to Côte d'Ivoire.

10. In the event that Mr. Gbagbo fails to heed this immutable demand of ECOWAS, the Community would be left with no alternative but to take other measures, including the use of legitimate force, to achieve the goals of the Ivorian people.

11. Against the background of the parlous security situation, the Heads of State and Government hereby instruct the President of the ECOWAS Commission to convene without delay a meeting of the Committee of Chiefs of Defense Staff in order to plan future actions, including the provision of security along the Côte d'Ivoire-Liberia border, in the event that their message is not heeded.

12. The Heads of State and Government decided to remain actively seized with the situation in Côte d'Ivoire.

13. The Heads of State and Government once more expressed their gratitude to His Excellency Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for his leadership role and continued efforts for a happy ending to the democratic process in Côte d'Ivoire.

14. The Heads of State and Government expressed their sincere appreciation to the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the generous hospitality accorded them in true African tradition, during their stay in Abuja and for the excellent facilities placed at their disposal to ensure the success of this Extraordinary Summit.

Done at Abuja this 24th day of December, 2010

THE AUTHORITY

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