The Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Parliament, Dr Sidie Tunis, has expressed concern over the pace at which the transitional processes are unfolding in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso.
Dr Tunis said this at the Opening of the 2023 First Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament in Abuja, Nigeria.
He also said the Parliament is worried about the proliferation of terrorist activities in the Sahel, which has resulted in the killings of innocent lives.
“Additionally, we are closely following events in Sierra Leone and Liberia, as they prepare to hold Presidential and Legislative elections in June and October respectively,” Dr Tunis said.
He however proffered solutions to securing a better region for present and future generations of ECOWAS citizens.
“First, we have a responsibility to foster peace in our region which can only be possible by supporting the structures and respecting the policies and protocols we already have.
“Second, collective and immediate actions are needed to tackle the challenges we have, including poverty, inequality, climate change and a host of others.
“And third, we owe to one another, mutual accountability in our pursuit of solutions to our looming challenges. The application of these principles is critical to the advancement of humanity. I hope we can find these very useful and work in concert for the good of our region and the world,” Dr Tunis also said.
He congratulated Nigeria’s President-Elect, Bola Tinubu on his victory at the polls and expressed best wishes on behalf of the membership of the ECOWAS Parliament for his success as he prepares to take up the responsibilities and challenges of his office.
The President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, said that the situation in the ECOWAS region is worrisome.
While recalling that the meeting was taking place in a context characterized by upheavals in the international environment, Dr Touray said; “The situation in the region remains worrisome. Nonetheless, we are deploying all resources to ensure stability, security, and resilience in our member states.”
He said that the ECOWAS Commission would continue to support member states in transition, particularly Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea, for a return to normal constitutional order.
“We have also been mobilising international support for Burkina Faso and Mali to fight terrorism and address humanitarian crises. We also continue to support elections in our member states, both as a conflict prevention measure and support to our democratization process,” he explained.
According to Dr. Touray, the ECOWAS is deploying the necessary electoral assistance to member states going for elections soon such as the legislative elections in Guinea Bissau and the Presidential elections in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
On the economic situation in the region, Dr Touray explained that despite inflationary pressures due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the economies of the region are resilient and continue to post growth rates (3.1 per cent according to the World Bank) with good prospects in general.
He however said the commission is seriously concerned about the security situation prevailing in the region, with the persistence and resurgence of terrorist acts in the countries of the three-border line: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and north-eastern Nigeria.
Dr Touray said the ECOWAS region must adopt a multifaceted and coordinated approach and pool resources together to eradicate this scourge.
On his part, the President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Justice Edward Amoako Asante decried the non-enforcement of the court’s judgments.
He said over 106 of the court’s judgments are yet to be enforced by member states while another 11 are outstanding against ECOWAS institutions.
Justice Asante expressed optimism that the current session of parliament would propose measures that would contribute to improving the level of enforcement of the decisions of the Court through their joint efforts for the benefit of the region, particularly its citizens who see in the Community the ultimate platform for improving their lives through collective action.
He noted that the court has contributed immensely in strengthening some underpinnings of democracy such as respect for human rights and the protection of the freedom of expression by holding Member States accountable for their International Treaty obligations.
Justice Asante said that the recent democratic reversals in the three Member States of Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali eloquently demonstrate the fragility of democracies across the region and emphasised the need for collective vigilance and coherent action in its protection.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
