ECOWAS Parliament Expresses Worries Over Obstinance of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger to Rejoin Regional Bloc

By: Michael Mike

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has again expressed worries over the seeming reluctance of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic to return to ECOWAS despite the many entreaties of leaders of the regional bloc.

Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima, disclosed this during the induction training for members of the 6th Legislature at the ongoing 2024 Third Extraordinary Session and Second Parliamentary Seminar of the legislative body in Lome, Togo on Wednesday.

The Speaker noted that the countries, which announced their exit from the 15-member ECOWAS in January 2024, following disagreements over military takeover of governments in the three countries, have not responded to calls for their return to the region’s most important organisation.

“We have taken a lot of initiatives at the level of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Council of Ministers and at all levels. We have written to the three countries but they have not responded.”

She however said despite this, West African leaders will continue to reach out to them for reconciliation.

A member of the Parliament, Hon. Shiaka Musa Sama from Sierra Leone had raised concerns over the continued absence of the three countries and the implications for the citizens of the countries, calling for more efforts to reconcile with the estranged countries and bring them back.

ECOWAS had imposed sanctions on the three countries after the military takeover but had gone a step further, threatening military intervention to restore democracy in Niger.

This initiated camaraderie in the three countries who subsequently pulled out from the regional bloc, forming instead confederation of Sahel states.

The leaders of the three countries had announced at a Summit early this year, that: “This summit marks a decisive step for the future of our common space. Together, we will consolidate the foundations of our true independence, a guarantee of true peace and sustainable development through the creation of the ‘Alliance of Sahel States’ Confederation,’” Capt. Ibrahim Traore, the leader of Burkina Faso, wrote on X.

“The AES (Alliance of Sahel States) is full of enormous natural potential which, if properly exploited, will guarantee a better future for the people of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso,” Traore added.

Earlier this September, the three leaders said they will introduce new biometric passports as part of their withdrawal from ECOWAS in favour of a new Sahel alliance.

Also in September Burkina Faso had threatened to launch new passports without the ECOWAS logo.

“In the coming days, a new biometric passport of the AES (Alliance of Sahel States) will be put into circulation with the aim of harmonising travel documents in our common area and facilitating the mobility of our citizens throughout the world”, Malian junta leader Assimi Goita had announced .

ECOWAS Parliament Expresses Worries Over Obstinance of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger to Rejoin Regional Bloc

Criminal Justice: AGF, Other Stakeholders Gather for Inauguration of NWC on National Minimum Standards for ACJA

By: Michael Mike

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, alongside key stakeholders including the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Adam Oaigwe (SAN), and the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, have convened in Abuja for the inauguration of the National Working Committee on National Minimum Standards for the Implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC).

This significant event, organized by the Federal Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the European Union-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC II) Programme of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), will span three days from September 24-26, 2024.

Mr. Badejogbin Oluwatoyin, Project Manager of Component 1 – Criminal Justice Reform under the RoLAC II Programme, highlighted the objectives of the event in a statement. He noted that the primary goal is to establish a National Working Group of stakeholders to review and validate the National Minimum Standards for the effective implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

“The summit will support the adoption of national minimum standards for the implementation of the ACJA/ACJL, develop strategies for increasing awareness about the ACJA/ACJL, and identify key ACJA/ACJL-related documents for translation, printing, and dissemination,” the statement read.

Deliverables from the event include National Minimum Standards for the Implementation of ACJA, 2015; strategies for raising awareness of ACJA/ACJL among the general population; and a list of key legal documents related to ACJLs for translation into various local languages and printing. 

This, according to the statement, ensures that legal information is accessible to a broader segment of the population, fostering greater understanding and compliance with the laws.

The RoLAC Programme Phase II, funded by the European Union and implemented by International IDEA in Nigeria, aims to consolidate the rule of law and anti-corruption reforms across the Federal Capital Territory and selected states: Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Edo, Kano, Lagos, and Plateau. A key component of the programme focuses on enhancing the performance, quality, and oversight of the criminal justice system and justice service delivery.

The Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), enacted in 2015, marked a significant milestone in Nigeria’s criminal justice administration. Lagos and Anambra had earlier enacted their own Administration of Criminal Justice Laws, setting a precedent for other states to follow. While the ACJA has achieved considerable success, gaps and weaknesses have necessitated the development of national minimum standards for its implementation.

About International IDEA

International IDEA is the implementer of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme Phase II, funded by the European Union. The RoLAC II Programme aims to enhance the performance, quality, and oversight of the criminal justice system and justice service delivery in Nigeria. The programme promotes transparency, accountability, and effectiveness within the justice sector. Building on the achievements of the previous RoLAC I Programme, RoLAC II aligns with the objectives of the EU–Federal Republic of Nigeria Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2022-2027. It aims to further consolidate the justice sector and anti-corruption reforms, reduce gender-based violence, and promote respect for human rights.

Criminal Justice: AGF, Other Stakeholders Gather for Inauguration of NWC on National Minimum Standards for ACJA

ECOWAS Needs Immediate Reforms to Tackle Multiple Crises- Rt. Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima

By: Michael Mike

The Speaker of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Rt. Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima has advocated for the speedy reforms of some procedures and laws that guide the operations of regional bloc in order to tackle the myriad of crises that is presently beset the region.

The Speaker made the call in Lome, Togo on Tuesday in her remarks at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Third Extra-Ordinary Session and Second Parliamentary Seminar of the regional legislature.

Ibrahima, who stated that one of the main areas of focus for the session is budgetary provisions to finance efforts to address the problems within the sub region, decried that “our region is ravaged by floods, terrorism, violent extremism and irregular migration that have affected thousands of our citizens. ECOWAS of 50 years must speed up reforms to consolidate the principles of democracy and good governance to drive the vision of the founding fathers.”

The Speaker while commending the President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe for his ceaseless support for regional integration and women empowerment. noted that her ascension to the speakership of the regional legislature as the first female to do so was a testament to the Togolese leader’s promotion of female competences at all levels.

The Speaker added that the session will afford the regional legislature the opportunity to consider and adopt its budget of 2025-2027 to give it a clear cut financial roadmap to come out with “pragmatic measures” to address these challenges for the peace, stability, solidarity and progress of West Africa.

The session will also examine the level of implementation of the Parliament’s 2023 budget as well as the mid-term budget for the 2024 financial year to ensure that it aligns with the region’s development goals.

The regional parliament will then hold a symposium tagged “Empowering Women through Financial Inclusion”, that will be organized by the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) to unlock opportunities for women through financial services and promote economic empowerment.

In his good will message, the President of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, said it is imperative to strengthen infrastructure and investment priorities in West Africa to unlock the opportunities in the region and make the economies of member countries more competitive even as he called for equitable distribution of economic opportunities for all citizens.

Represented by the Director, Department of Research and Strategic Planning MacDonald Goanue, the EBID president said the ECOWAS Parliament is a vital institution to facilitate dialogue, promote peace and stability towards achieving the objectives of the region. He pointed out the need for ECOWAS institutions to prioritize regional cooperation to boost investments and ensure equitable distribution of the benefits.

He said “West Africa must ensure that the benefits of investments are equitably distributed among its citizens and together we can realize the vision of the bloc for its citizens.”

The Togolese Minister of Human Rights, Citizenship Training and Relations with the Institutions of the Republic of Togo, Barrister Pacome Yawovi Missiame Amenyo Adjourouvi, decried the human rights situation in the region. He said the human rights have been undermined by repressive governments which have suppressed freedom of speech and protests against harsh government policies.

He noted that human rights protection will guarantee peace and greater opportunities for the citizens to thrive saying “we must play essential role to promote and protect human rights in West Africa”. He said further that the implementation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right and gender equality will bring the regional bloc near to its cherished objectives.

The Speaker of the Togolese National Assembly, Sevon-Tepe Kodjo Adedze, who declared the session open on Tuesday in Lome, said the region must intensify its developmental strides with “budgetary provisions for a better Community,” stressing that the ‘ECOWAS vision 2050’ must consider social inclusion, economic integration, peace, stability , harmony and prosperity as espoused by the President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe.

ECOWAS Needs Immediate Reforms to Tackle Multiple Crises- Rt. Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima