Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President, Economic Community of West African States Commission, Tuesday expressed concern that the region is in a state of Emergency following the current military incursions in governments, kidnapping, banditry and the alarming humanitarian crisis within West Africa.
He spoke at the opening of the 55th Ordinary session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at the Ministerial level in Abuja.
The ECOWAS Commission President said it won’t be out of place to say that the region is in a state of emergency.
He said: “Events of the last few weeks have shown the imperative of serious introspection on the future of our democracy and the urgent need to invest in the security of our community.
“Faced with this situation, Excellencies, it is safe to declare that our community is in a state of emergency.”
Touray therefore called for a constant meeting of the ECOWAS security, beyond the regular two meetings a year.
He said: “The sessions of the mediation and security council should be organized more regularly beyond the two ordinary sessions for the next one year. We must confront these threats with the attention they deserve. “We must pool our resources to confront the threats of terrorism and banditry, which operate without respect for territorial boundaries.
“This Council needs to constantly monitor the political and security situation in our Community, to provide guidance and to enable regional action.”
He noted that the different risk levels across the region thereby demand action.
He listed the risk factors to include the persistence of military interventions (Guinea-Bissau and Republic of Benin just days ago) and non-compliance with transition norms in Guinea, as we face a military leader turning into a civilian leader).
He also highlighted other causes of humanitarian challenge to include growing erosion of electoral inclusivity across multiple states; Expanding influence of Terrorists and Armed Groups and criminal networks threatening regional stability.
He therefore said to contain the challenges,“We must confront these threats with the attention they deserve. “We must pool our resources to confront the threats of terrorism and banditry, which operate without respect for territorial boundaries.”
Touray pointed out the need for constant monitoring of political situations within member states.
“This Council needs to constantly monitor the political and security situation in our Community, to provide guidance and to enable regional action.”
The Security Council meeting, he therefore said, will be looking at issues like “Managing Guinea-Bissau’s coup and post-attempted coup in Benin; ensuring credible and peaceful transition in Guinea and enforcing constitutional norms in all the elections coming up for the next one year.”
The gathering, he said “will also be considering the issue of candidate exclusion trends region-wide; Strengthening regional response to Terrorism and destabilizing activities of armed and organized crime groups; Maintaining unity within ECOWAS amid geopolitical pressures; Increasing geopolitical pressures affecting Member States’ diplomacy and cohesion.”
He also warned that the issues of elections have become a major trigger of instability within the region.
“Elections have become a major trigger of instability in our Community. Despite the best efforts of our community to establish constitutional convergence principles, and to have a support programme for elections in our region in order to safeguard our democratic credentials and stability, we have continued to witness political practices that violate these principles.”
He stressed: “In the coming days and months into next year, we will be witnessing elections in Guinea, Republic of Benin, the Gambia, and Cape Verde. We will also be managing the post-events relating to the Coup in Guinea Bissau and the coup attempt in the Republic of Benin. We also have to negotiate with our neighbours, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), particularly the terms of our security cooperation as we continue to see the devastating effect of terrorists’ groups along our borders with them.
“West Africa continues to see grim numbers on the humanitarian front. Behind these numbers are families, women and children who bear the brunt of instability.”
