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ECOWAS Should Partner AU, UN in Mediation with Niger, Burkina-Faso, Mali, Advises Stakeholders
ECOWAS Should Partner AU, UN in Mediation with Niger, Burkina-Faso, Mali, Advises Stakeholders
By: Michael Mike
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been advised to partner with the African Union(AU), the United Nations (UN) and the Diaspora Community to intervene in the mediation process with the three Sahelian countries of Niger, Burkina-Faso and Mali in the ongoing plan of bringing them back into the regional bloc.
The call was made on Thursday in Abuja at a forum organised by the West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS) and Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) Ghana with the theme: “Strengthening Response to Democratic Recession in West Africa: The Role of the Diaspora Community.
In a communique issued at the end of the forum, the failure of ECOWAS in its recent mediation efforts with Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso was recognized, and a call was made that the regional body should partner with the African Union, the United Nations and the Diaspora Community to intervene in the mediation process.
ECOWAS was urged to improve on its communication strategy and clearly communicate information to the citizens of the community, as the majority of citizens in the Alliance of Sahelian States (AES) are not aware of the implication of the exit from ECOWAS.
A request was made to ECOWAS to deploy an all-female delegation to mediate with the military leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, bearing in mind that an all-men delegation has not worked in recent time.
The participants at the forum agreed to continue to support ECOWAS as an agent of integration of the peoples of the region, calling on the regional body to reinvent itself in promoting the ECOWAS of the People. Support the immediate constitution of ECOSOC which aims to promote the ECOWAS of the People.
The communique further read: “We reiterate our strong opposition to the overbearing colonial legacies and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) in the domestic affairs and the peacefully established status of territories of the region.
“On the need for complementarity, we call for the full participation and involvement of the Diaspora Community, CSOs, and other critical stakeholders in decisions affecting the people of the region.
“Appeal to the military leaders of the Alliance of the Sahelian States to remain in the ECOWAS. while calling for the immediate restructuring of ECOWAS: ensuring checks and balances are effective. Condemn the structure where power is concentrated in the Heads of States over the ECOWAS Parliament and the Regional Court.
“Recommend a strong CSO and diaspora network to mobilize resources for advocacy and for the protection of human rights in the region and demand a more democratic region that is able to meet the needs of the people, we immediately call for immediate closure of the gap between the citizens and the leaders. We demand that ECOWAS be more responsible and more responsive to the needs of citizens.
“Call for the defense of human rights activists, especially women who face a double challenge as human rights defenders. In addition, women will be more vulnerable with the exit of the AES.
“Support calls for two-term limits for ECOWAS heads of state and government, while condemning all unconstitutional changes of government in the region, including changes to a country’s constitution to extend the tenure of presidents. Urge ECOWAS to openly condemn member states violating its Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
“Urged ECOWAS to develop a mechanism of communicating early warnings/compliance/response to democratic recession in the region.
“Recommend unconventional ways e.g. DemoCratic (the arts) to advocate for good governance in the ECOWAS region.”
The participants are expressed worries that “the last two decades have seen manifestations of democratic backsliding that is escalating in all forms and scope and the decision of the military governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to withdraw from the ECOWAS bloc and the submission of a one-year formal notice of their withdrawal to the Commission, citing ECOWAS’s deviation from the ideals of its founding fathers and Pan-Africanism after nearly 50 years of existence.”
They lamented that the withdrawal of these states will threatens the continuation of several significant interventions, projects and programmes, including the Regional Food Security Reserve, which hosts stocks for about 52% of the regional stock; the Regional Support Programme for Pastoralism in the Sahel, financed by the World Bank to the tune of USD215 million for the three states; the Sahel Regional Irrigation Support Programme, financed by the World Bank, to the tune of USD103.43 million for the three states; the Regional Food System Resilience Support Program, funded by the World Bank, to the tune of USD230 million for the three states.
Other things to be adversely impacted include the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market project, which links all member states to a regional electricity grid for improved access to electricity; the withdrawal could result in the halt or suspension of ECOWAS projects and programmes worth over US$500 million; Logistical hurdles for the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and its potential to weaken the long-term goal of establishing a single currency for all ECOWAS members; and a decline in foreign direct investment, negatively impacts on the private sector and women in the informal sector of the economy.
ECOWAS Should Partner AU, UN in Mediation with Niger, Burkina-Faso, Mali, Advises Stakeholders
Troops clear bandits’ camps, rescue victims, recover arms in Bauchi
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops under Operation WUTAN DAJI have cleared several bandits’ camps, rescued kidnapped victims and recovered arms during clearance operations in Bauchi State.
Security sources said troops of 33 Artillery Brigade Garrison, in conjunction with elements of the Brigade Headquarters and a team from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), carried out the operation in Kumbodoro forest and Kumbodoro village.
According to the sources, the operation was led by the Commander, 33 Artillery Brigade, Brig.-Gen. S.S. Shehu, as part of ongoing efforts to rid the area of criminal elements.
They added that several bandits’ camps, including Azuge camps, were cleared during the operation, while a number of the criminals were neutralised.
Items recovered include four skeletal rifles, four dane guns, two pairs of boots, three helmets, a power bank, a Startimes decoder, one FN rifle magazine, one AK-47 magazine, communication links, a jackknife, six mobile phones, arrows, radio chargers, ATM cards, photographs, identity cards, as well as several pairs of security agency uniforms and leg chains.
The sources further disclosed that eight kidnapped victims were rescued during the operation.
They said troops are currently holding position within the Kumbodoro forest to consolidate gains from the clearance mission.
In a related development, the sources said troops deployed at Duguri, in collaboration with local vigilantes, recovered 36 cows at Mushen Kura village following information that the animals were roaming the area.
“The cows are suspected to have fled from bandits’ camps due to the ongoing operations and are currently in custody for further action,” the sources said.
They noted that troops’ morale and combat efficiency remain high, while operations continue to deny bandits freedom of action in the region.
Troops clear bandits’ camps, rescue victims, recover arms in Bauchi
Joint security forces raid herders’ camp in Rivers, recover arms and ammunition
By: Zagazola Makama
Joint security operatives under the Joint Task Force, South-South, Operation Delta Safe, have raided a suspected herders’ camp in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, recovering arms and ammunition.
Security sources said the operation was carried out at about 1:30 p.m. on April 12 along the IPO community axis by troops of 6 Division Garrison in collaboration with personnel of the Air Force, Navy, Police, Department of State Services (DSS) and Civil Defence Corps.
According to the sources, the raid targeted identified herders’ and cattle rearers’ camps in the area.
They added that items recovered during the operation include one AK-47 rifle, one pump-action gun, 274 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and four mobile phones.
The sources noted that the operation is part of ongoing efforts to curb illegal possession of firearms and enhance security across the Niger Delta region.
Joint security forces raid herders’ camp in Rivers, recover arms and ammunition
Zulum establishes quarry centre, procures 70 trucks for infrastructure development
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has announced the establishment of a quarry centre in Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area, to accelerate infrastructure development in the state.
Zulum made this announcement on Monday while flagging off the distribution of 70 brand-new Howo pickup trucks to the Ministry of Works and the State Road Maintenance Agency (BORMA) at the Government House.
The 70 Howo trucks are designed to boost the operational capacity of the Ministry of Works and its supervising agencies. The trucks will enable the swift delivery of materials to sites and faster intervention on distressed roads.
According to the governor, the quarry centre will provide locally sourced materials including granite, gravel and sharp sand to support ongoing and future road projects, reducing dependence on external suppliers and cutting costs.
“We have achieved a lot in health, education, agriculture, security, and road construction among others. However, we still have challenges of constructing roads within the state, especially in rural communities,” Zulum said.
“My administration has established a quarry plant in Pulka with a processing capacity of 120 tons per hour. The State Government spent at least 3 billion to establish the quarry plant”, he added.
According to the governor, due to the prevailing insecurity, most contractors are not willing to work in Borno.
“You know, no serious contractor will take the risk of deploying his equipment to most of the implementing areas, so this is the reason we are here”, the governor reinstated.
“So, we have no option but to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Works, the capacity of Borno State Road Maintenance Agency (BORMA), the capacity of special projects, monitoring departments and other MDAs that are responsible for road construction.”
The brief ceremony was attended by the Secretary to Borno State Government, Bukar Tijani, Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Works, Engr Baware, BORMA Chairman, Engr Sadu Auno, the Special Adviser on Monitoring and Evaluation, Engr Bukar Gujubawu and other senior officials.
Zulum establishes quarry centre, procures 70 trucks for infrastructure development
Troops clear bandits’ camps, rescue victims, recover arms in Bauchi
Joint security forces raid herders’ camp in Rivers, recover arms and ammunition
Zulum establishes quarry centre, procures 70 trucks for infrastructure development
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