The ECOWAS Commission is considering taking strategic steps towards resolving the issues surrounding the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the sub-regional bloc.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, disclosed 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 issues that culminated in the recent decision by the three countries to withdraw from the bloc, also delved into Senegal’s pressing electoral situation as well as the need for regional cooperation.
The commission’s president explained that the separate official notifications by the three countries to withdraw from ECOWAS on January 29 had wider implications that needed to be addressed.
He said: “To justify their action, the three countries outlined their grievances with ECOWAS, which include the perceived departure of ECOWAS from the “pan-African ideals of its founding fathers; the perceived influence of hostile foreign powers on ECOWAS, a feeling of abandonment 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 hasty intent on withdrawal of membership from ECOWAS did not take into account the conditions for withdrawal of membership from ECOWAS.”
According to Touray, such decisions were espoused in the 1993 ECOWAS Revised Treaty, but more importantly, the three-member states had not reflected the implications 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 decried Senegalese President Macky Sall’s decision to repeal Decree 2023-2283 of November 29, 2023, while convening the county’s electoral body for the country’s February 25, 2024 presidential election, adding that it was of concern to the MSC.
This, according to him, resulted in the postponement of the country’s presidential election, followed by the adoption of the National Assembly, saying such was against the resolution fixed for the December 15, 2024, poll.
“These developments have engendered crises in the country and the sub-region; these unfolding 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 tackle ECOWAS issues.
Mahamat said: “This meeting is critical in our view, and we believe the extraordinary nature reflects the urgency to address these conflicting matters on our continent, particularly in West Africa.
“We are continually faced with terrorism, violence, extremism, insurgencies, difficult disruptions, and governance deficit; if these issues are not addressed promptly and holistically, we may undermine our democratic gains.
“Regrettably, we have continued to experience these complex challenges, particularly 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.
