The coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has
urged for dialogue with aggrieved member countries to prevent the
disintegration of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The groups, comprising the Civil Society Legislative
Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) and
Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), made the call at a media interactive session
in Lagos on Monday, February 5.
The groups also called for the restoration of democratic rule in Niger, Mali
and Burkina Faso, where the military took over power through coups d’etats.
The coalition, in a communique issued at the end of the
dialogue, expressed dismay at the recent announcement of withdrawal from ECOWAS
by the trio of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, noting that such a threat should
not be overlooked.
The groups advocated the removal of sanctions imposed on the member states
which has caused hardship to the people especially women and children.
“It is imperative to recall the commitment of member states not to attack one
another through the non-aggression treaty signed in 1976. The attack may not
only be in the form of military engagement.
“The leaders of ECOWAS in the interest of sustaining a
peaceful, united, and prosperous economic bloc must 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 requisite for
stemming the tides of insecurity in the region,” it said.
The communique was signed by CISLAC’s Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa
(Rafsanjani), the General Secretary, of WACSOF, Kop’ep Dabugat and a
representative from TMG, Najaatu Mohammed.
“While CSOs continue to condemn military rule in the region rather than
resorting to constitutional measures, the threat of gradual disintegration of a
community which had hitherto served as best practice template for regional
integration in Africa cannot be overlooked.
“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, 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 of 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,” it said.
