ECOWAS must enforce zero tolerance for coups, says Sierra Leone’s foreign minister 

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman, ECOWAS Council of Ministers.

Photo NAN

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The Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman, ECOWAS Council of Ministers, Mr Timothy Kabba, has called for zero-threat tolerance against unconstitutional change of government among the member states.

Kabba made this known during the opening ceremony of the 95th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers that started from Wednesday, December 10, to Friday, December 12 in Abuja.

This, according to him, is against the backdrop of the recent military incursions, humanitarian crises, and emergency declarations in several member states.

Kabba said, “We must remain united, vigilant, and decisive in upholding a zero-threat stance of ECOWAS against unconstitutional changes of government.

“Our commitment must translate into timely reactions, measured responses, and strengthening preventive mechanisms.

“We will continue to be committed to constructive engagement with Member States that are presently in transition.

“Our objective is not to isolate the state, but to foster a credible, inclusive, and time-bound return to democratic governance.

“We will speak with a unified voice, guided by our protocol on democracy and good governance, to ensure the swift restoration of constitutional order and the preservation of our regional principles without compromise.”

He urged the participants to approach the 95th Ordinary Session with renewed dedication, optimism, and a spirit of cooperation and determination to achieve the desired goals.

He decried the security and governance challenges confronting the sub-region, saying that there should be a collective determination to safeguard peace, protect democratic institutions, and ensure that the aspirations of citizens for stability and development are not derailed.

He revealed that the council plans to, over the course of the meeting, examine memoranda and comprehensive reports, to gain an in-depth understanding of the community’s current state and identify areas for enhancement.

In his goodwill message, the President of ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, urged the ministers to examine the various memoranda that required their collective decision and full consideration.

He said that such included an annual work programme, budget of the community institutions, financial situation of the community, status of implementation of the community levy protocol, report of the Monitoring General of ECOWAS Institution, and the Audit Committee.

Touray said, “We will be presenting for information, memoranda on the status of implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), including the work of the Task Force on the scheme, and memoranda on the ECOWAS Single Currency.

“The council will also be briefed on the financial situation of the West African Power Group, our flagship regional electricity market platform currently facing challenges, on account of debt owed by national electricity companies.”

He disclosed that ECOWAS had appointed Alhaji Aliko Dangote, its Pioneer Chairperson of the ECOWAS Business Council, in view of his vast experience in business within our sub-region and across Africa, to promote intra-regional trade and investment.

In her welcome remarks, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, urged the ministers to come up with decisions that will help shape the recommendations to be submitted to the Authority of Heads of State and Government.

“We must remain steadfast in defending constitutional order, promoting inclusive political dialogue, and supporting credible transitions that reinforce stability.

“Our region’s future depends on deepening intra-regional trade, strengthening value chains, facilitating investments, and creating opportunities for the over 400 million people, especially young people of 25 years and below, who constitute about 65 per cent of the population.

“They no doubt rely on ECOWAS to chart a path toward progress; your deliberations over the course of this 95th Ordinary Session are, therefore, of utmost importance,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.

(NAN)

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