Niger is organizing the 57th ordinary summit of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) this Monday in Niamey in the presence of the heads of state of the sub-region.
The current president of the organization, Issoufou Mahamadou, President of Niger will share with his counterparts in the sub-region on several subjects, including the serious crisis in Mali.
During their last videoconference contact, the heads of state of ECOWAS “accepted” the de facto resignation of the Malian president, who was the victim of a coup. Among other things, they asked the junta of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP, in power) to quickly promote a civil transition. ECOWAS will therefore take stock of the situation.
It will also be a question of the answers to be provided to Covid-19 in the African context. The fight against this pandemic testifies to the will of the current president of the organization to emphasize the strategic role of ECOWAS in this fight in the face of health, security, strategic and economic challenges.
There will also be an overview of the Zlecaf and the Multinational Joint Force of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, in the Joint Force of the G5 Sahel and within the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) once again urged the junta which took power in Mali, demanding a ‘rapid’ return of civilians, Nigerian President Mahamadou Issoufou said on Monday at the opening of ‘a summit of the ECOWAS in Niamey.
‘It is the duty of our community to assist the Malians with a view to the rapid restoration of all democratic institutions. The military junta must help us to help Mali ’, said Mr. Issoufou, also current president of ECOWAS.
On August 28, during an extraordinary ECOWAS summit on Mali, President Issoufou indicated that the sanctions would be “gradually lifted depending on the implementation” of measures allowing the return of civilians. These sanctions (closure of borders, embargo on financial and commercial exchanges) are still in force.
In addition, addressing other topics, President Issoufou urged his colleagues ‘to develop a new roadmap while maintaining a gradual approach for the launch of the common currency’ and underlined ‘the difficulties of mobilizing funding’ to fight against jihadism.
‘We must consider all health, security, political and economic crises as opportunities. History does not iron out the dishes. Let us therefore take advantage of the opportunities it offers us to accelerate regional and continental integration,” he concluded.
Eight heads of state were present at the opening of the summit, including President Faure Gnassingbé.
Reference: https://magazinedelafrique.com/politique/cedeao-sommet-extraordinaire-ce-lundi-au-niger/
