AA / Bath / Amarna Power
The Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decided at an extraordinary summit, held on Saturday in Accra, Ghana, to maintain the sanctions imposed on Mali and the suspension of Burkina Faso from all its instances until the restoration of constitutional order.
In addition, she expressed her deep concern at the deterioration of the socio-political situation in Guinea (Conakry), due in particular to the absence of an appropriate framework for dialogue between the government and political and civil society actors, while asking the Guinean authorities to finalize an acceptable transition timetable.
With regard to Mali, the conference first commended ”the efforts made by the ECOWAS Mediator to obtain an acceptable timetable capable of ensuring a rapid return to constitutional order, in accordance with the protocols and decisions of ECOWAS and the African Union.
In addition, the Heads of State of the West African Organization decided to “maintain the sanctions imposed on January 9, 2022, to continue the dialogue with the aim of reaching an agreement which should allow the gradual lifting of the sanctions, as that the steps of the transition schedule have been completed”.
With regard to Burkina Faso, ECOWAS also welcomed the decision that allowed former President Kaboré to return to his home and insisted that he be granted complete freedom before reiterating its concern regarding the length of the transition period set to 36 months by the authorities of Burkina, as indicated in its press release of March 25, 2022.
The summit “decided to maintain the suspension of Burkina Faso from all ECOWAS bodies until the restoration of constitutional order while requesting the finalization of an acceptable transition timetable”.
After examining the situation in Burkina Faso, the former President of the Republic of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou was appointed by his peers as ECOWAS mediator for Burkina Faso, in order to facilitate dialogue between all stakeholders .
With regard to Guinea, the Heads of State expressed their deep concern at the deterioration of the socio-political situation in this country, due in particular to the absence of an appropriate framework for dialogue between the government and the actors politicians and civil society, the press release explains.
And to add: ”The Conference also remains concerned regarding the length of the 36-month transition period announced by the authorities of Guinea”.
Consequently, “the Conference calls for the finalization of an acceptable transition schedule, calls on the government to set up an appropriate framework for dialogue with political and civil society actors, in order to reduce socio-political tension and promote a peaceful transition and calls for the continuation of discussions on the two aforementioned points.
Finally, ECOWAS has confirmed the appointment of Mohamed Ibn Chambas, as ECOWAS mediator for Guinea, urges the government to ensure respect for the human rights of all Guinean citizens and to refrain from any arbitrary act contributing to challenge the rule of law in the country.
The Conference decides to examine the situations of Guinea, Mali and Burkiana Faso at its next ordinary summit on July 3, 2022.
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