Amid growing tensions between Niger and Benin Republic and the exit of Burkina Faso, Mali And Niger from the economic community of West African States, the Regional body will need to reinforce the “Kano Declaration” for enhancing dialogue towards mediation and conflict prevention.
The first female Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament Memounatou Ibrahima and her counterpart, President Aleiu Touray both made the call at the Bloc’s first 2024 ordinary session which opened at the national assembly in Abuja
The “Kano declaration” earlier made at an extraordinary session of ECOWAS 6th legislature held in may in Kano state seeking to establish ECOWAS Adhoc committees for conflict mediation roles, topped the agenda at Monday’s Plenary among the numerous topics billed for the 3 weeks deliberations.
The declaration among other subregional strategies such the as the standby regional force and finance reviews became necessary following the withdrawal of 3 countries from the Bloc and tensions between Benin and Niger republic.
MUST READ: Tennis: Emma Raducanu Begins Wimbledon With Hard-Fought Victory Over Renata Zarazua
Other ECOWAS officials including the Bloc’s court of justice president Edward Asante and ECOWAS minister for human rights Yawoi Adjourouvi called for the creation of a special tribunal for the prosecution of human rights violations in Gambia.
They further called for plans towards the strengthening of democracy through credible electoral processes ahead of polls in Ghana and Guinea Bissau.
With over 400 million inhabitants of the ECOWAS countries the ‘tough talk’ on initiatives promoting entrepreneurship, private sector investment addressing unemployment and education would have to yield more concrete actions to reduce the level of poverty now bedeviling the higher percentage of the regions population.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
