Excellency, Chairperson of the IPU;
Heads of Delegations;
Dear Colleagues;
Ladies & Gentlemen.
Thank you for the opportunity accorded us to share the views of the
ECOWAS Parliament on rethinking & reframing the approach on peace and
International Security.
Let me take this time to acknowledge the presence of the Honorable
Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, His Excellency Dr. Sidie Mohammed
Tunis and other members of our delegation.
Chairperson of the IPU
Excellencies,
The West African region has made some progress in democracy
consolidation, regional cooperation, and economic growth over the
years. However, the region has been in the global spotlight of recent
due to persistent insecurity and accompanying humanitarian crises.
Indeed, the current peace and security climate in West Africa is
brimming with existing and emerging threats that are national,
regional, and global in character. The threats are occasioned by
incidents of terrorism, violent extremism, election violence, inter
communal violence, ethnic violence, farmer-herder conflicts,
transnational organized crime, and climate change, among others.
- In an effort to find a long lasting solution to previous security problems
that confronts the region, the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS), in 2008, adopted the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention
Framework (ECPF), to serve as strategic framework for improving
conflict prevention and human security. The adoption of the ECOWAS
Conflict Prevention Framework is an addition to several initiatives
which includes key protocols and conventions that are aimed to build a
stable West Africa as prerequisite for social, political and economic
development. - Some of the earlier initiatives by ECOWAS to promote stability in the
region include but not limited to; the Protocol on Non-Aggression
(1978), the Protocol on Mutual Assistance on Defense (1982); ECOWAS
Revised Treaty (1993); the Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for
Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and
Security (here after the Mechanism); Declaration of Political Principles
(1991); and the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good
Governance (2001). communal violence, ethnic violence, farmer-herder conflicts,
transnational organized crime, and climate change, among others. - In an effort to find a long lasting solution to previous security problems
that confronts the region, the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS), in 2008, adopted the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention
Framework (ECPF), to serve as strategic framework for improving
conflict prevenAon and human security. The adopAon of the ECOWAS
Conflict Prevention Framework is an addition to several initiatives
which includes key protocols and conventions that are aimed to build a
stable West Africa as prerequisite for social, political and economic
development. - Some of the earlier initiatives by ECOWAS to promote stability in the
region include but not limited to; the Protocol on Non-Aggression
(1978), the Protocol on Mutual Assistance on Defense (1982); ECOWAS
Revised Treaty (1993); the Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for
Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and
Security (hereafter the Mechanism); Declaration of Political Principles
(1991); and the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good
Governance (2001). Over the years, with the mandate provided by
virtue of these protocols, ECOWAS has made significant contribution to
the promotion of peace and security in Côte d’Ivoire (2010), Guinea
Bissau (2012), Liberia (1990), and Sierra Leone (2002), where violent
conflicts took place. - Excellencies, distinguished ladies & gentlemen, the overall aim of the
ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework is to strengthen the human
security architecture in West Africa. The intermediate purpose is to create cooperative interaction within the region and with external
partners to push conflict prevention and peace-building up the
political agenda of Member States in a manner that will trigger timely
and targeted multi-actor and multi-dimensional action to defuse or
eliminate potential and real threats to human security in a predictable
and insitutional manner.5. Despite the Protocols in place to tackle the insecurity within the
region, recently, there has been decline in the democracy landscape in
West Africa with implications on peace, development and security of
its people. Notable trends include the re-emergence of military coup
d’état and overthrow of democracy governments as can be observed
in Mali (2021), Guinea (2021) and in Burkina Faso (2022) most
recently, to include the failed coup in Guinea Bissau (2022). Of note is
that in the case of Guinea, the tension generated by the incumbent
administrations aspiration for a 3rd term was one of the root causes of
the 2021 coup d’état. These have not only thwarted democracies, but
also led to political uncertainties in the affected countries. The case of
Guinea is not an isolated incident but the trajectory of incumbent’s
administration’s efforts towards consitutional amendment in relation
to Presidental term limits and tenure elongation as also recently
witnessed in Togo and Cote d’Ivoire with growing fears of attempts by
other Member States adopting this trend. This has further undermined
governance leading to fractured civic space, social in cohesion,
manipulation of the electoral processes and violent dissensions
between citizens and political actors. - Excellencies, distinguished ladies & gentlemen, in reaction to these
emerging political challenges in the region, Member States were
unanimous in demanding during the extraordinary session of the
ECOWAS Heads of State and Government of September 16, 2021, for
the President of the Commission to initiate the process of reviewing
the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy & Good Governance.
- This call was received with enthusiasm by all stakeholders, including
the ECOWAS Parliament. The call was also seen as an effort to regain
ECOWAS dwindling political relevance amongst its citizens and also
shore up a renewed wave of democracy stability in the region. Also, it
meant to address critical aspects of the above mentioned Protocol to
respond effectively the declining democracy governance in the region,
including the issue of presidenAal term limits and tenure elongaAon. - Of recent, ECOWAS has found useful the deployment of special
mediators and members of the Council of the Wise (a group of
eminent personalities, including former heads of state, ministers,
diplomats, and other high level personalities) in fact finding,
facilitation, mediation and negotiation missions in areas of potential
conflict. In addition, ECOWAS Heads of State also apply methods such
as peer review, peer pressure and consensus building to resolve
lingering crises, behind the scenes and often to good effect.9. As a Parliament and as enshrined in relevant Articles of its established
Supplementary Act, the Parliament has been able through its activies
to create for itself an enviable record of peace keeping and mediation.
Parliament, as a matter of parliamentary diplomacy, was involved in
the search for peace in the Mano River Union (MRU) in 2002, where
Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia had fragile peace. Parliament also
initiated peace talks between the Liberian United Reconciliation and
Democracy (LURD) rebels and the Liberian Government.10.Also, the Parliament mediated the 2018 dispute in the Sierra Leonean
Parliament where the leadership of the Parliament was in an impasse
with their membership, there were many others. Parliament regularly
conducts Fact- Finding pre-election missions to ensure a level playing
field and subsequently dispatches observers to verify the fairness of
the votes during elections. This is a framework which the Parliament
practiced recently in Cabo Verde and The Gambia (2021).11. Notwithstanding these achievements, we are fully aware and agree
that the direct elections of members into the Parliament will confer
new competences on the Parliament and would transform the
Parliament into a truly independent and democracy body, and all
efforts are being directed towards achieving that. While we work
towards the realization of this democracy legacy, we take pride in the
work we do, as a Parliament, to keep our region peaceful and secure. - Excellencies, distinguished ladies & gentlemen, ECOWAS is already
taking steps towards rethinking and reframing the approach to peace
processes in reaction to the emerging political upheaval. It is our belief
reaction measures, this
will engender lasting peace and development in our region. - Finally, permit me to say that as the representatives of the people, we
are here to listen and learn from experiences of other regions and
Member States in relation to rethinking & reframing the approach to
peace processes with a view to fostering lasting peace the world over.
Thank you for your kind attention
Merci beaucoup!!!
Obrigado!!!
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