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•Demand speedy restoration of democracy in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), have said they were appalled by the developments in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), particularly the recent announcement of the Republic of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso’s withdrawal from the regional bloc.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the Executive Director, CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, General Secretary, WACSOF, Kop’ep Dabugat and TMG’s Najaatu Mohammed, noted that while they continue to condemn in totality military rule in the region, the threat of gradual disintegration of a community which had hitherto served as best practice template for regional integration in Africa cannot be overlooked.
According to the CSOs, “It is imperative for Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, and indeed, the rest of the member states of ECOWAS to have a deep reflection over the collective milestones of the regional integration collectively achieved, including peace missions to member states; free mobility of people, goods and services; trade enhancement through the removal of customs duties and tariffs on commodities; as well as collective infrastructural development efforts, such as the West African power pool, leading to the construction of Diama and Manatali Dams in Senegal and Mali, respectively.
“At a time when the region is advancing discussions on a single market to further boost trade and development, it is completely disheartening to see leaders shun the channel of diplomacy and dialogue, and instead, attempt to disintegrate the community.”
CISLAC, TMG and WACSOF said in pursuit of a more integrated and stronger community of states in the West African region, they were calling on the Authorities of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to rescind their decisions to withdraw from ECOWAS because of obvious beneficial reasons.
The CSOs urged state and non-state actors in the region to intensify engagements towards ensuring a more united ECOWAS.
They urged the military authorities in these countries to urgently roll out workable transition plans that clearly reactivate return to civil rule and quick restoration of democratic order. “These plans should consist of a timetable of political activities leading up to the conduct of elections and transmission of power, within the shortest time possible,” they noted.
They charged the military authority in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso in the spirit of fairness, transparency, and accountability, to recuse themselves from transmuting from military to civil rulers. “This is particularly pertinent as failure to do so would create the impression that the only intention of the junta was to grab power for personal interests.”
They urged authorities in these countries to ensure and prioritize free, fair, and credible elections, capable of bringing about the choices of the people, and thereby restoring their trust for democratic processes.
They advised the people of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to take advantage of the transition programmes to rise and be counted by actively participating in the quest to return to democracy.
CISLAC, WACSOF and TMG also called on the leadership of ECOWAS and all West African countries to remove the sanctions imposed on the Republic of Niger, and any of the above-mentioned countries, which have caused hardship to the people of the country, especially women, children and other vulnerable groups.
“It is imperative to recall the commitment of member states not to attack one another through the non-aggression treaty signed in 1976. Attack may not only be in the form of military engagement,” they observed.
The CSOs charged the leaders of ECOWAS in the interest of sustaining a peaceful, united, and prosperous economic bloc, to continue to operate under the principles of mutual respect that made the region a template for best practice in fostering regional integration in Africa.
“The community must recognize the clauses that protect each member state from interference in its internal affairs. More so, in a period of growing trans-border insecurity, a more integrated ECOWAS is a requisite for stemming the tides of insecurity in the region. CISLAC, WACSOF and TMG re-echoes the instrumentality of continued dialogue and sustained civil engagements for democratic stability in the region,” they said.
