Ecowas Leaders Met In Accra Yesterday To Discuss Nigeria, Mali

President John Dramani Mahama has appealed to leaders of ECOWAS member-states not to allow the progress that has been made for the benefits of many to be undermined and derailed by the selfish and destructive interest of a few.

Addressing the opening of an extraordinary meeting of the Heads of State in Accra Friday afternoon,he said the determination of ECOWAS to protect the safety and welfare of its people may not be new but the threats that they currently face and the manner in which they are being raced were new.

He said when the extended internal conflicts of two member nations – Mali and Nigeria -threaten to engulf the sub region in war, “we do not stand idly by or wait for interventions from western nations to protect our community.”

He therefore appealed to his colleagues to act and institute measures that make clear that they will not allow any country to be used to destabilise other nations in the sub region or outside of it.

Act clearly

“We must also take into consideration the changing demographics of our sub region. Our population is increasing dramatically and we have a growing youth. We are not creating jobs fast enough to absorb the growing numbers of graduating youth. Our social interventions and safety nets are not sufficient to cushion the poor and vulnerable.”

He said in many countries, the fruits of accelerated economic growth were not being spread equitably among the people and that these issues were, “…a thunder box with a potential to elevate social tensions in our sub region. Indeed it is a powder keg with a potential to threaten the peace and security of our sub region.”

President Mahama who is the Chairman of the ECOWAS called for the meeting to deliberate on the security situations in Nigeria and Mali which has dominated international discussions in recent times.

In his address, President Mahama acknowledged that it was important for ECOWAS to recognise the determination to come together and to stand together in defence.

“We formed the ECOMOG and though the peace keeping mission in Liberia was not perfect, it was productive in getting Liberia and Sierra Leone to initiate the transition towards peace.”

“Our vision is for us to work together to consolidate the peace in Mali, to bring Guinea Bissau back into an era of democracy and prosperity and to support and solidarise with Nigeria and its fights against Boko Haram. Meeting

Eight Heads of State are participating in the meeting, while the others are being represented. Those that attended personally are the Presidents of Nigeria, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Niger, Togo and Burkina Faso.

The session is being held at the Movenpick Hotel in Accra.

President Mahama delivered the opening address, while Mr Ouedraogo, President of the ECOWAS Commision also delivered a speech.

The rest of the meeting was held under closed doors.

Mali and Nigeria have dominated international discussions following the security situations in those countries.

Mali

The security situation in Mali has remained fragile since March 2012 when the army launched a coup against the Malian President, Amadou Toumani Toure.

In the heat of the troubles within the country, Tuareg rebels and Islamists captured the northern part of the country.

Their advance southward was halted by the French Army in early 2013. Although there is relative peace in the northern part of the country, the situation is still not completely resolved.

The ECOWAS leaders will, therefore, discuss and initiate strategies to return absolute normalcy to that country.

Nigeria

With the Nigeria situation, Boko Haram remains the major security threat.

Currently, the over 200 schoolgirls the terrorist group abducted more than a month ago are still being held, with no sign of their release in the immediate future.

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, is reported to have started moves to talk to the terrorists about the release of the girls.

In Accra today, ECOWAS leaders will advance strategies on how to deal with the situation.