By Victor Iluyemi
WorldStage Newsonline– ECOWAS Heads of States at the end of their meeting on Thursday, endorsed the Counter-Terrorism Strategy and Implementation Plan as well as the Political Declaration on a Common Position against terrorism.
Specifically, they made the commitment to tackle the issue of terrorism headlong during the 66th session of Heads of states and government of West African leaders on Mali and Guinea Bissua in Abdijan, Cote d’Ivoire.
According to a communiqu√© issued at the end of the meeting, “The Authority declares its determination to combat piracy, illegal and irregular fishing, drug trafficking, and other forms of transnational organized crime in the Gulf of Guinea.
” To this end, Authority welcomes the planned ministerial meeting and Summit of ECOWAS and ECCAS scheduled to hold in 2013 to adopt a broader Regional Strategy and Plan of Action on the fight against Maritime Insecurity.”
The sub-regional leaders also looked into the situation in Mali and Guinea Bissau and strongly condemned the on-going suicide bombings and guerrilla attacks by terrorist and extremist groups in the North of Mali and urged the allied forces to take all necessary steps within the framework of the counter-insurgency operation to neutralize them and ensure the prosecution of collaborators.
The communiqué said: “Authority expresses its profound gratitude to Government of France for its decisive action. Authority also expresses its deepest gratitude to the Government and People of Chad for their exemplary demonstration of concrete solidarity with the people of Mali and their commitment to the ideals of the African Union. Authority pays special tribute to the gallant heroes of this great nation who paid the ultimate price helping Mali to assert its territorial integrity.
“Authority endorses the revised Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for AFISMA and urges both the political leadership and Commanders of the allied forces to ensure improved coordination among themselves for a harmonious and effective operation.
“Authority endorses the recommendations of the Meeting of the Chiefs of Defence Staff regarding the urgent and other identified needs of AFISMA. In this regard, Authority directs the ECOWAS Commission, in close collaboration with the AU Commission, to ensure that these needs are met without further delay, in particular the deployment of troops and the provision of additional logistics.
“The Heads of State and Government welcome the disposition of Burundi to deploy troops in Mali within the framework of AFISMA, and call on the AFISMA Force Commander to ensure follow-iup with a view to integrating the Burundi troops into the on-going operations.
“Authority exhorts the allied forces to scrupulously uphold human rights and international humanitarian laws in their operations. To that end, it welcomes the on-going initiatives by ECOWAS, the AU and other partners to quickly deploy human rights observers to the conflict zone and inculcate human rights values in service personnel through induction courses.
“Summit reiterates its call on international humanitarian actors to continue to provide assistance to the affected populations. It directs the ECOWAS Commission, in collaboration with humanitarian partners, to monitor and coordinate the relief efforts to ensure effectiveness.
“Authority directs the ECOWAS Commission, in close consultations with the AU Commission, to address a request to the United Nations in support of the formal request by Mali to the UN to take steps towards the transformation of AFISMA into a UN peacekeeping operation under an appropriate mandate, as soon as conditions permit.
“Authority reiterates its firm support to the on-going transition and to the transitional authorities led by President Dioncounda Traoré, and expresses its continued commitment to defend the transition against all spoilers, civilian or military.
“Summit welcomes the adoption of the transitional roadmap by the National Assembly and exhorts the Malian authorities and all other stakeholders to ensure its expeditious implementation.
“The Heads of State and Government, taking note of the decision of the Malian authorities to hold Presidential and legislative elections by 31 July 2013, decide to extend the mandate of the transitional organs till the end of the transition in line with the opinion of the Constitutional Court. They exhort the competent authorities in Mali to initiate the necessary constitutional process to that end.
“The Heads of State and Government urge the transitional authorities to create the necessary conditions for convening a forum for comprehensive dialogue on the issues of governance among the people of the northern regions involving in particular, the representatives of the different communities, elected officials, and civil society organizations. In this context, the Heads of State also urge the transitional authorities to expedite action on the establishment of the National Commission on Reconciliation and Dialogue in order to promote, through the broadest possible representation, national reconciliation and the restoration of sustainable peace.
“Authority recalls its commitment to the unity and territorial integrity of Mali, which requires in particular, the deployment of the national army throughout the country. To this end, Authority demands the disarmament of all armed groups, including the MNLA. It further stresses that the renunciation by the MNLA of violence and its declared secessionist intentions is the minimum condition to be fulfilled before being accepted into any dialogue.
“Authority expresses deep appreciation to H.E. Blaise Compaoré, President of Burkina Faso and ECOWAS Mediator in the Malian crisis, and H.E. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Associate Mediator, for their unrelenting efforts in Mali. It encourages them to persevere in their role by facilitating the accomplishment of the tasks outlined in the transitional roadmap.
“Authority reiterates its unflinching support to the transition in Guinea Bissau.  Authority welcomes the signing of the Transitional Pact by all the major political parties as well as the spirit of consensus and inclusiveness that is building around the process.
“Authority encourages President Manuel Serifo Nhamajo to propose a technically feasible Draft Revised Transitional Roadmap to the People’s National Assembly for the preparation and conduct of free, fair, and transparent general elections before the end of 2013. Authority exhorts the National Assembly to adopt, as soon as possible, the said draft roadmap, and requests the Regional Contact Group on Guinea Bissau to ensure follow up.
“Summit decides to extend the transitional period in Guinea Bissau till 31 December 2013, taking into account the on-going process in the People’s National Assembly.
“Summit welcomes the imminent commencement of the implementation of the Defence and Security Sector Reform Programme (DSSRP) in Guinea Bissau within the framework of the memorandum of understanding between the country and ECOWAS. It directs the President of the ECOWAS Commission to take all appropriate measures to facilitate and sustain its implementation.
“Authority commends the officers, men and women of the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea Bissau (ECOMIB) for their laudable efforts in assisting to ensure the security of institutions and the population.  It directs the ECOWAS Commission to ensure the effective operations of the Mission. To that end, Authority adopts the recommendations of the Committee of ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDS) regarding ECOMIB.
“Summit calls on the AU Commission to produce, as soon as practicable, an accurate consolidated report of the Joint Assessment Mission undertaken by ECOWAS, AU, CPLP, UN and the EU to Guinea Bissau in December 2012.  Summit expresses the expectation that the report will constitute another tool to strengthen the efforts to build consensus among the international partners on the situation in Guinea Bissau.
“Authority reiterates its repeated calls so the AU to recognize the on-going transition and to lift the sanctions imposed on Guinea Bissau. Authority also calls on its international partners to urgently consider the resumption of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in order to further encourage reforms in the country.
“The Heads of State and Government express deep appreciation to H.E. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of the Regional Contact Group on Guinea Bissau (RCG-GB), and members of the Group, and to H.E. Alpha Condé, the Mediator in Guinea Bissau, for their assistance to Guinea Bissau and their commitment to ensuring a successful inclusive transition.
“Authority reaffirms its political commitment to the Praia Declaration and the Regional Plan of Action against Drug Trafficking.  Authority decides to extend the period of the Plan by two years, in order to sustain the fight against the scourge and to consolidate the financial support base for its effective implementation.
“The Heads of State and Government reiterated their firm commitment to the development of the Region through the acceleration of the integration process, including the implementation of sectoral programmes and the consolidation of the common market within the framework of respect for fundamental principles as contained in the founding Act, Protocols and other relevant texts of ECOWAS, including those relating to the promotion and consolidation of democracy and good governance.
“On democracy and good governance,  the heads of state welcome the increasing acceptance of the Community’s constitutional convergence principles and the gradual deepening of democratic culture in the Region.
“Authority commends the Governments and people of Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Ghana for conducting peaceful Presidential and Legislative elections in the course of 2012, which were adjudged by ECOWAS, as well as local and international observers as free, fair, and transparent. It also commends Burkina Faso for conducting successful legislative and municipal elections in December 2012.
“Authority warmly congratulates H.E. Ernest Bai Koroma on his re-election as President of Sierra Leone, and H.E. John Dramani Mahama, on his elevation to the highest office in Ghana.
“Authority expresses expectation that the legislative elections in Guinea and Togo, as well as the general elections in Mali and Guinea Bissau anticipated in 2013, will similarly be peaceful, consensual, inclusive, and credible.
“Authority however expresses concern about the incidents of political violence, non-acceptance of election results, and military interference that mar the advances made in the democracy agenda, and instructs the ECOWAS Commission to deepen its electoral assistance to Member States.
“The Heads of State and Government reiterated their firm commitment to the development of the Region through the acceleration of the integration process, including the implementation of sectoral programmes and the consolidation of the common market within the framework of respect for fundamental principles as contained in the founding Act, Protocols and other relevant texts of ECOWAS, including those relating to the promotion and consolidation of democracy and good governance.
“Authority judges as encouraging the economic performance recorded by the Region in 2012. In order to consolidate the performance and sustain growth capable of reducing poverty, the Heads of State and Government undertake targeted measures towards sanitizing the macroeconomic framework, deepening structural reforms, diversifying the productive base of the economy, and improving social services.
“ In that regard, Authority directs the President of the Commission to take additional measures to reinforce the achievements of the different integration projects, particularly those aimed at consolidating the common market, enhancing convergence programmes, promoting the private sector and boosting the resilience of the region through the implementation of appropriate sectoral policies.
“Authority reaffirms its commitment to combat food insecurity in West Africa. While stressing the importance of the ECOWAS Common Agricultural Policy, the Heads of State and Government request the Commission to expedite action on the implementation of the ‚ÄòRice Offensive‚Äô, the regional programmes to develop small-scale livestock farming, and the hydraulic programmes.
“In particular, Summit directs the President of the Commission, in particular, to take all necessary measures to ensure the effective takeoff of the regional food reserve, and to address the environmental challenges more effectively by pursuing efforts to find appropriate solutions to pollution.‚Äù
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