Abidjan — The ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council has recommended for adoption by regional leaders, the report of the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff on the possible deployment of a regional force that will assist Mali secure its territorial integrity and undertake peacekeeping and related operations.
The deployment of the force is part of a strategic approach being pursued by the region to end the rebellion by separatist groups in northern Mali.
The Council decided at an extra-ordinary meeting in Abidjan on Thursday, 12th April that the regional force will be deployed if dialogue being brokered by the regional mediator, President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso, should fail.
The report of the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff at their meeting on 5th April 2012 specified the form and mandate of the force, the modalities for deployment, proposals for designating the force commander and the contribution of troops and logistics. "ECOWAS shall take all necessary measures to end the rebellion and maintain the unity and territorial integrity of Mali including the use of force," the Council, which comprises ministers of foreign affairs, said at the expanded meeting which was also attended by ministers of defence.
The ministers insisted that the rebels must withdraw from all occupied territories as a precondition for negotiations. The European Union, France and the United States have already indicated their willingness to support ECOWAS' effort to end the rebellion and preserve Mali's territorial integrity, particularly against the backdrop of the reported infiltration by terrorists.
The Council, which operates at three levels, including diplomatic and Heads of State and Government, has responsibility for issues of regional peace and security within West Africa's security architecture as enshrined in the ECOWAS 1999 Protocol on the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security, and the 2001 Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
To address the anticipated humanitarian consequences of the crisis in northern Mali on the Sahel region, the ministers directed the transfer of the three million US dollars approved by regional leaders to the legitimate government of Mali and another 1.5 million dollars to the neighbouring countries of Burkina Faso and Niger. The ministers also agreed to dispatch a military contingent to Guinea Bissau to replace the departing Angolan Mission towards ensuring the effective implementation of the regional road map for the country's defence and security sector reform programme; secure persons during the scheduled 29th April 2012 presidential run-off election and ensure the sanctity of the electoral process.
The Council further agreed on the dispatch of a mixed civilian-military delegation to Guinea Bissau under the auspices of the regional mediator to meet with the key stakeholders within the political class and the military to douse the political tension arising from the country's inconclusive first round presidential election of 18th March 2012.
The mixed delegation will include officials of the ECOWAS Commission, as well as Chiefs of Defence Staff and political officers from Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea and Nigeria. The ministers also used the opportunity to reaffirm their confidence in President Alpha Conde of Guinea as the regional mediator for the crisis in Guinea Bissau and called on all citizens of Guinea Bissau to give him their maximum support.
The country is reeling under post-electoral disputes resulting in the paralysis of government, with several opposition candidates threatening to boycott the run-off poll, amid fear among politicians for their safety.
The election followed the death of President Bacai Sanha on 9th January 2012. The expanded meeting of the Mediation and Security Council was attended by representatives of Algeria, France, the European Union, Mauritania and the United States of America.
It considered the report presented by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Kadre Desire Ouédraogo, which described the crises in the two Member States as reverses in the political situation in the region. He made proposals for addressing these latest challenges to regional peace and security.
The Council meeting took place before the attempted coup by the military in Guinea Bissau. ECOWAS has strongly condemned the coup attempt and demanded the immediate restoration of constitutional order to allow the completion of ongoing electoral process in the country.
