President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that in spite of significant achievements of the ECOWAS in the promotion of democracy via peaceful government transitions, insecurity in the form of arms, drug trafficking and terrorism militates against integration and political stability in the region.
He made this statement at the 48th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government (HOSG) which opened yesterday in Abuja.
Buhari noted that several structural and administrative challenges in the commission require urgent attention and concerted efforts to confront transnational organised crime such as arms trafficking, drug trafficking and piracy in West Africa.
He further stressed that member states’ governments in collaboration with their partners should fast-track all joint initiatives and mechanisms to address insecurity in the region.
Representative of the UN secretary general, Ban Ki Moon, and head of the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA), Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, in recognition of the concerted efforts by the ECOWAS in the fight against Boko Haram, emphasised that clear policies, determination and commitment will yield better results.
The UN pledged its support to ECOWAS in the fight against organised crime while emphasising the need for integrated cooperation amongst member states, saying, “In a globalised world, no country can on its own confront criminal networks cooperating across porous borders”.
Commending ECOWAS’ successful resolution of crises in Burkina Faso and Guinea Bissau, the president of ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, expressed optimism that similar success will be replicated in the Malian Peace and Reconciliation Agreement.
“My optimism is great because I am inspired by the strong resolve of all Heads of State and Government to extirpate terrorism from our region, and the fact that HOSG have decided to make the fight against terrorism the principal focus of your summit,” stated Ouedraogo.
Eleven African Heads of States were in attendance including H. E. Alassane Ouatarra, president of Cote D’Ivoire; H. E. Jose Mario Vaz, president of Guinea Bissau; H. E. John Dramani Mahama, president of Ghana, amongst others.