By
Alpha Jallow
The extraordinary summit of heads of state and government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which took place in the Senegalese capital Dakar on Saturday, discussed, among other things, the political and security situation facing the region.
High on the agenda during the summit was terrorism and the general elections scheduled for October in the three member countries of Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea.
Speaking at the opening session, the Senegalese head of state and current chairman of Ecowas, Macky Sall, highlighted the major challenges facing the region and the efforts being taken to resolve them.
“One of the foremost challenges facing this sub-regional grouping is the fight against terrorism in all forms,” he said, while expressing solidarity with Nigeria and other countries engaged in the fight against Boko Haram and other terrorists organisations.
President Sall appealed to Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea to ensure that their presidential elections scheduled for October were held in a peaceful atmosphere.
“The conduct of a peaceful and transparent electoral process also remains an important issue for the preservation of peace and stability in our community,” said President Sall.
In his opening remarks, the President of ECOWAS Commission, Kadré Désiré Ouédrago, delved at length into the ongoing efforts of member countries to solve the constitutional crisis in Guinea Bissau, which he described as a very positive development.
“I commend Presidents Alpha Conde of Guinea, Yahya Jammeh of Gambia and Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria for the steps they have taken with the Guinea Bissau authorities to help resolve the dispute” Mr. Ouédrago said.
He expressed optimism about the peaceful resolution of the crisis, based on the goodwill of the political actors in Guinea-Bissau.
Ouedraogo also welcomed the “peaceful manner” in which elections were held in March and April respectively in Nigeria and Togo.
He therefore appealed to the authorities in Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Guinea to ensure that the presidential elections to be held in October are “transparent and credible and the results accepted by all.”
Among other things, Mr. Ouédrago also spoke on such regional challenges as the Ebola virus disease, the crisis in northern Mali and the phenomenon of illegal migration.
The summit which ended with recommendations to resolve the pressing regional challenges was attended by heads of state of only eight of the 15 member countries.
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