The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has said that despite the challenges that confront the 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 the 52nd Session of the Mediation and Security Council at the Ministerial Level, also explained that the peace operations include 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 and Security Council will receive a detailed briefing on the operationalization 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 operationalization of the ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Force.
While speaking further, he said that ECOWAS has also been actively addressing humanitarian challenges in the region through coordinated efforts and strategic interventions in Member States.
“Through these interventions, food items and other relief materials have been provided to communities most affected by natural disasters and insecurity.
“Other support includes the establishment of a 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.” He said
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’s security challenges and support efforts to promote the region’s economic growth, peace, and political stability.
“This includes enhancing our security architecture, strengthening regional cooperation, encouraging effective intelligence sharing, and promoting resilience within our communities.
“The operationalization 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.” He said.
Also, the President of the ECOWAS Commission said in his speech that 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 the dumping of toxic waste, thus affecting livelihoods.
“Governance deficits and marginalisation strain social contracts, fostering organised crime, resource competition, and violence.”
“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 the last session held here in Abuja in December.
He added that, in the spirit of complementarity, UNOWA has continued engagements with various actors and relevant stakeholders in and beyond the subregion.
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 sub-region.
“As part of these efforts, I visited Burkina Faso and Niger in March and travelled to Mali in May, where I held discussions with national leaders and relevant stakeholders.
“During these discussions, I underlined the need to prioritise 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.”
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