ECOWAS Chair Nana Akufo-Addo is in Guinea to meet with the country’s new military regime, a day after the regional bloc issued a communiqué demanding, among other things, that elections are held in six months for the country to return to democratic rule.
The Ghanaian leader left Accra for Conakry on Friday, 17 September 2021 to discuss the resolutions with the junta.
“I am currently in Conakry, capital of Guinea, in my capacity as Chairperson of the Authority of Heads of State of ECOWAS, together with the President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, His Excellency Alassane Ouattara, to hold talks with the military leadership in Guinea, led by Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, centering largely on the fate of President Alpha Condé, amongst others”, President Akufo-Addo said on social media.
The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) took its decisions at an Extraordinary Session on 16 September 2021 in Accra, Republic of Ghana, under the chairmanship of the Ghanaian leader.
According to the communiqué, the Authority decided: “a. to uphold the suspension of Guinea from all ECOWAS governing bodies until the restoration of constitutional order; b. to ensure the conduct of presidential and legislative elections within six (6) months in order to restore constitutional rule in the Republic of Guinea; c. to impose sanctions, in accordance with extant ECOWAS Protocols, of travel bans on the members of the CNRD and their family members and of freeze of their financial assets; d. to call on the African Union, the European Union, the United Nations, and other multilateral and bilateral partners to support the implementation of these sanctions; e. to ensure that no member of the CNRD is allowed to contest in the presidential election; f. ECOWAS to accompany Guinea in the swift resolution of the crisis and in the preparations for the elections”.
Read the full communiqué below:
Accra, Republic of Ghana 16 September 2021
COMMUNIQUE
1. The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) convened in Extraordinary Session on 16 September 2021 in Accra, Republic of Ghana, under the chairmanship of H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana and Chair of the Authority, to review political developments in the Republic of Guinea. The Heads of State also reviewed the latest development of the transition in the Republic of Mali.
2. Present at the Summit were the under-listed ECOWAS Heads of State and Government or their duly mandated representatives:
H.E. Roch Marc Christian Kabore, President of Burkina Faso; H.E. Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire; H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana; H.E. Umaro Sissoco Embalo, President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau; H.E Georges Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia; H.E. Mohamed Bazoum, President of the Republic of Niger; H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal;
COMMUNAUTE ECONOMIQUE DES ETATS DE L’AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST
COMUNIDADE ECONOMICA DOS ESTADOS DA AFRICA OCIDENTAL
ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES
H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone; H.E. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe, President of the Togolese Republic; H.E. Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; H.E. Aurélien A. Agbenonci, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Benin; H.E. Filomena Mendes Gonϛalves, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cabo Verde; H.E. Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of the Republic of The Gambia.
3. The session was also attended by H.E. Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Goodluck Jonathan, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS Mediator to Mali, and H.E. Mahamat Saleh Annadif, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa.
4. The Heads of State and Government took note of the Report of the high level Mission dispatched to the Republic of Guinea on 10 September 2021, following the Extraordinary Session of the Authority held via videoconference on 8 September 2021. They also took note of the report on the political transition in the Republic of Mali, presented by the Mediator H.E Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
5. They commended the quality of the reports and the relevance of the recommendations contained therein.
6. The Authority, after deliberations, endorsed the main recommendations contained in the Mission’s report.
7. The Authority reiterates its unreserved condemnation of the coup of 5 September 2021 and reaffirms its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of President Alpha Conde. It also reminds members of the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development (CNRD) that they are individually and collectively responsible for the physical safety of President Alpha Conde.
8. The Authority was apprised of the current socio-political situation in the Republic of Guinea and of the apparent commitment of the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development (CNRD) to work towards a swift return to constitutional order. It also took note of the CNRD’s decision to hold consultations with all national and international stakeholders on the socio-political situation in the Republic of Guinea. The Authority expressed its concern about the resurgence of coups after the coups in Mali in 2020 and 2021.
9. After consideration of the Report and subsequent deliberations, the Authority decides as follows:
a. to uphold the suspension of Guinea from all ECOWAS governing bodies until the restoration of constitutional order; b. to ensure the conduct of presidential and legislative elections within six (6) months in order to restore constitutional rule in the Republic of Guinea; c. to impose sanctions, in accordance with extant ECOWAS Protocols, of travel bans on the members of the CNRD and their family members and of freeze of their financial assets; d. to call on the African Union, the European Union, the United Nations, and other multilateral and bilateral partners to support the implementation of these sanctions; e. to ensure that no member of the CNRD is allowed to contest in the presidential election; f. ECOWAS to accompany Guinea in the swift resolution of the crisis and in the preparations for the elections.
10. The Authority calls on the African Union, the United Nations and development partners to endorse the decisions and support the restoration of constitutional rule in the Republic of Guinea.
11. Members of the Authority request the Chair of the Authority to visit the Republics of Guinea and Mali as soon as possible to convey in person the decision of the Authority.
12. The Authority decides to remain actively seized on the matter.
On the Political Transition in the Republic of Mali
13. The Authority remains deeply concerned about the slow pace of preparations for the elections scheduled for late February 2022 in the Republic of Mali.
14. The Authority reiterates its demands for strict adherence to the transition timetable leading to the effective conduct of elections within the nonnegotiable deadline of February 2022. To this end, the Authority calls on the transitional authorities to submit, by the end of October 2021 at the latest, the timetable, for setting out the essential steps to be taken for the February 2022 elections. It insists on the implementation of only the necessary reforms for the conduct of elections on the agreed date.
15. The Authority decides to impose targeted sanctions against persons or groups of persons whose actions have a negative impact on the transition timetable, as decided by the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government. These sanctions would include travel ban on such persons and their family members and the freezing of their financial assets. To this end, the Authority instructs the President of the ECOWAS Commission to compile and submit a list of such persons and groups of persons.
16. The Authority strongly condemns the continued arrest and detention of political leaders and opponents by the transitional authorities. It also demands that the issue be handled in line with the rule of law and respect for human rights.
17. Regarding security, the Authority strongly condemns the decision of the transitional authorities to hire private security companies in Mali and is greatly concerned about its consequences on the deterioration of the security situation in Mali and the region as a whole.
On the Strengthening of Democracy
18. In light of recent developments in the region, the Authority reaffirms that the consolidation of democracy and good governance is crucial for the development, peace and stability of the region. Consequently, the Authority instructs the President of the Commission to initiate the process of reviewing the 2001 Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance in order to ensure democracy, peace and stability in our region.
19. The Heads of State and Government express their deep gratitude to H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana and Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, for his leadership of the Community.
Done in Accra, this 16th day of September 2021
THE AUTHORITY
Source: Ashantibiz
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