The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has decided, after its extraordinary meeting held at the weekend, to reaffirms its demand for the unconditional release of President Alpha Condé in the Republic of Guinea and imposed additional sanctions as a step to harden its stance against both the military-ruled Mali and Guinea. Both countries are currently ruled by military governments.
On the political transition in the Republic of Guinea, the meeting took of the recent developments in Guinea, particularly the adoption of the transition charter, the appointment of a civilian Prime Minister and the formation of the transition government.
It urges the transition authorities to urgently submit a detailed timetable of activities to be carried out under the transition towards the holding of elections, in accordance with the decisions of the previously held meeting by the Heads of State and Government.
On the political transition in the Republic of Mali, the meeting expressed concerns about the deterioration of the security situation in Mali, as a result of the heightened political uncertainties in the country. The meeting calls on the transition authorities to intensify their efforts to improve the security situation, especially by ensuring effective state presence in the affected areas.
In this context, the Authority calls on the neighboring countries to step up security presence along their borders with Mali and instructs the ECOWAS Commission to deepen the ongoing discussions with the African Union Commission with a view to enhancing the security situation in the Sahel.
The Chair of ECOWAS informed that the authority of the official notification by the transition authorities of their inability to meet the transition deadline of February 2022.
It highly deplores the lack of progress made in the preparations for the elections, including the absence of a detailed timetable of activities for the conduct of elections on the agreed dates.
It reiterates the need to adhere to the transition timetable in respect of the elections scheduled for 27th February 2022 and calls on the transition authorities to act accordingly to ensure expeditious return to constitutional order. Accordingly, it calls on the international community to take the necessary measures to ensure that the transition authorities respect their commitment to an expeditious return to constitutional order.
It calls on the African Union, the United Nations, and the bilateral and other multilateral partners to endorse and support the implementation of these sanctions and other measures taken to ensure both countries return peacefully to constitutional and democratic government. The situation in Mali and Guinea will be reviewed at the next Ordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government on 12th December 2021.
