Raphael Oni
His Excellency Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, The Minister of Foreign Affairs, said despite the challenges that confronting the sub -region, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has continued to sustain its peace support operations in some Member States.
Tuggar while disclosing this at the opening of 52nd Session of the Mediation and Security Council at Ministerial Level, also said explained that the peace operations includes the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea- Bissau (SSMGB) and the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG), as well as the ongoing plans for the deployment of an ECOWAS Stabilisation Mission in Sierra Leone, given recent developments there.
The Minister, therefore, said, the Mediation an Security Council will receive a detailed briefing on the Operationalisation of the ECOWAS Security Architecture, focusing on the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF), including a progress report on the ECOWAS logistics depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone, and the outcome of the just concluded meeting of Ministers of Defence and Finance, convened to discuss financing options for the operationalisation of the ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Force.
While speaking further, he said, ECOWAS has also been actively addressing humanitarian challenges in the region, through coordinated efforts and strategic interventions in Member States. In the words of the Minister, “Through these interventions, food items and other relief materials have been provided to communities most affected by natural disaster and insecurity. Other support includes the establishment of framework for disaster risk reduction, and collaboration with international partners to ensure a comprehensive response. Our discussion today should also focus on this important issue, with a view to evolving further strategies to address the region’s humanitarian challenges.”
Tuggar said, it is crucial for all Member States to remain united and work together in solidarity to harness the full gamut of our resources, intelligence, and capabilities to develop comprehensive strategies that will address the region security challenges and support efforts to promote region’s economic growth, peace, and political stability. According to him, “This includes enhancing our security architecture, strengthening regional cooperation, encouraging effective intelligence sharing, and promoting resilience within our communities. “The operationalisation of the ECOWAS counter- terrorism force and the review of our Regional Action Plans are steps in the right direction, but we must act further, to ensure that these initiatives are robustly funded and effectively implemented.” .
Also, the President of ECOWAS Commission, in his speech said, the Sahel faces climate and man-made crises, leading to terrorism and violent extremism.
He added that the Gulf of Guinea faces illegal fishing, drug trafficking, and dumping of toxic waste; thus affecting livelihoods. He said, “Governance deficits and marginalisation strain social contracts, fostering organised crime and resource competition and violence.”
Furthermore, he said, “To complicate the situation, our Region has also become the arena of multipolar geostrategic and geopolitical competition, coupled with the explosion of new destructive technologies.”
“The Region is also affected by strategies of misinformation and disinformation practices that foster mistrust among stakeholders and undermine social cohesion.”
He lamented the continued shrinking of the political and civic space, exclusionary constitutional and institutional processes and breaches of the Region’s values, including the Constitutional Convergence Criteria of the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
“Amidst this gloomy picture, we are encouraged by the rays of hope in democratic consolidation as demonstrated by recent electoral successes in Senegal and Liberia.
“Promoting dialogues, truth, justice, and reconciliation processes are also taking place, often with the facilitation or support of ECOWAS, such as in Sierra Leone and The Gambia.” He said.
Meanwhile, the Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of UNOWAS, Leonardo Simao, said, the United Nations commends continuous and sustained efforts by ECOWAS to address the challenges facing the subregion since last session held here in Abuja in December.
He added that in the spirit of complementarity, UNOWA have continued engagements with various actors and relevant stakeholders in and beyond the subregion.
This, he said, as part of efforts to contribute to a lasting solution to the standoff between ECOWAS and the three Member States which have indicated their intention to withdraw from the regional bloc, engagements have also been carried out within the framework of addressing security challenges, consolidating democracy and good governance, and promoting development in the subregion..
“As part of these efforts, I visited Burkina Faso and Niger in March and traveled to Mali in May where I held discussions with national leaders and relevant stakeholders.
“During these discussions, I underlined the need to prioritize the wellbeing of the populations.”
“I also encouraged the authorities of the three countries to collaborate with ECOWAS, coastal states and their neighbours, including through the Accra Initiative.”
