The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has stated that the decision to lift sanctions on Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso was based on the need to maintain the unity and security of the region.
Dr Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, made this known at the end of the extraordinary session of the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS recently in Abuja.
According to Touray, the authority took note of the Lenten period and the approaching month of Ramadan and the impact on citizens. He added that pleas were also received from prominent leaders which include retired General Yakubu Gowon.
He said: ”The authority takes note that the withdrawal will have political, social, socio-economic, financial and institutional implications for the three countries as well as for ECOWAS as a region.
”The authority recalls that within the framework of regional cooperation against terrorism, violent extremism and organised crime, the three countries benefited from about 100 million US dollars mobilised by UMR within the context of the ECOWAS plan of action against terrorism.
”Moreover, some funds allocation, about 7.5 million U.S. dollars is being made towards supporting the three countries in acquiring the equipment to help their fight against terrorism.
”The withdrawal will affect security cooperation in terms of sharing intelligence and participation in regional counterterrorism initiatives.
”Such as the Accra initiative, and the Multinational Joint Task Force.’‘
Touray added that the suspension of these countries from ECOWAS would lead to diplomatic and political isolation at the international stage where the countries have gotten support for their candidates in the contest for international positions.
He said: ”The authority recognizes that the withdrawal will automatically affect the immigration status of the citizens, as they may be required to obtain visas to travel around the region.
”Citizens may no longer be able to reside or set up businesses under ECOWAS arrangement and may be subject to diverse national laws.
“The three countries will cease to use ECOWAS passports across biometric national identity cards, and the brown card vehicle insurance.
”The authority recognizes that the three member states represent 17.4 percent of the region’s 425 million population.
“Even though they represent 10% of the region’s GDP, their departure will constitute a reduction of the market size of ECOWAS”
According to him, the sanctions were lifted to foster trade and benefits derived from many regional projects and programmes including the Regional Food Security Reserve.
He said: ”The regional support programme for powerful pastoralism in the Sahel, which is being funded by the World Bank to the tune of 215 million US dollars is also a project that benefits the three countries.
”The three countries also benefit from the Sahel regional irrigation support programme, which is being funded by the World Bank to the tune of 103 million US dollars.
”The three regional food systems resilient support programme in the amount of 230 million, funded by the World Bank is also benefiting the three countries.
”West African single identity and regional integration and inclusion project is another programme that the three countries benefit from.
”Reviewing the implications at the institutional level, the authority notes that the withdrawal will not only require the closure of four regional entities in Burkina Faso, two regional bodies in Mali and one regional office in Asia.
”It will also affect the job security of some 130 ECOWAS staff who are citizens of the three countries. Currently 77 staff members are from Burkina Faso, 23 are from Mali, and 32 are from Niger.”
