The ECOWAS Commission is exploring strategic ways to resolve the issues that led to the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the sub-regional bloc.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, revealed this at a one-day Extraordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council, MSC, at the ministerial level on Thursday in Abuja.
The meeting, which aimed at addressing the factors that triggered the recent decision by the three countries to quit the bloc, also discussed Senegal’s tense electoral situation and the need for regional cooperation. The commission’s president explained that the separate official notifications by the three countries to leave ECOWAS on January 29 had broader implications that needed to be tackled.
He said: “To justify their action, the three countries listed their complaints with ECOWAS, which include the perceived deviation of ECOWAS from the “pan-African ideals of its founding fathers; the perceived influence of hostile foreign powers on ECOWAS, a feeling of neglect by ECOWAS in their fight against terrorism; and the imposition of illegal, illegitimate, inhumane, and irresponsible sanctions by ECOWAS.
“These claims have no real basis; the rash intention to withdraw from ECOWAS did not consider the conditions for withdrawal from ECOWAS.”
According to Touray, such decisions were stipulated in the 1993 ECOWAS Revised Treaty, but more importantly, the three-member states had not contemplated the consequences of this decision on the citizens.
“We have, therefore, prepared two memoranda on this issue for your consideration, including an analysis of the wider implications of the withdrawal for the concerned member states and the community at large,” he added.
He condemned Senegalese President Macky Sall’s decision to repeal Decree 2023-2283 of November 29, 2023, while summoning the county’s electoral body for the country’s February 25, 2024 presidential election, saying that it was a matter of concern to the MSC.
This, according to him, resulted in the delay of the country’s presidential election, followed by the approval of the National Assembly, saying such was against the resolution set for the December 15, 2024, poll.
“These developments have sparked crises in the country and the sub-region; these emerging events in the region are posing threats to peace and political stability in our community.
“Consequently, an additional memorandum has been prepared on the situation in Senegal for consideration.
“This session of the MSC, therefore, invites you to critically examine the implications of the trio ECOWAS member-countries withdrawal,” he said.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the African Union Commission, AUC, represented by Bankole Adeoye, AUC’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, called for urgent steps to address ECOWAS issues.
Mahamat said: “This meeting is crucial in our view, and we believe the extraordinary nature reflects the urgency to address these conflicting matters on our continent, especially in West Africa.
“We are constantly faced with terrorism, violence, extremism, insurgencies, difficult disruptions, and governance deficit; if these issues are not addressed quickly and comprehensively, we may jeopardize our democratic gains.
“Regrettably, we have continued to experience these complex challenges, especially in this Sahel.”
He urged the three countries to constantly dialogue with ECOWAS, adding that the bloc would ensure that security, democracy, good governance, and economic development would advance its lofty ideals.
