Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea will be at the top of the agenda of the 62nd summit of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) taking place this Sunday in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, where the transition process in these three countries, united by the military coup, which are currently suspended from the organization, will be discussed.
The organization’s mediators will present to the leaders an updated assessment of the situation in these three countries and the steps to be taken in the future of relations with the respective military juntas, marked by strong popular protests against the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS, at the time, against them.
These evaluations will cover the current state of the 24-month transition in Guinea, the expectations on the new strongman of Burkina, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, or the impact of the Russian presence in Mali and its relationship with the head of the junta, Colonel Assimi Goitia, who has been holding dozens of Ivorian military personnel in detention in Bamako for the past four months.
«While work continues to restore constitutional order in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, steps will be taken to halt the backsliding of democracy in the region by instituting a stronger regime against anti-corruption practices,» according to the summit’s statement of intent.
This plan is summarized in the so-called «4×4 Goals» to enhance peace and security in the face of terrorism, jihadism and criminal activity, as well as deepen regional integration, good governance and inclusive and sustainable development through «capable institutions and equitable partnerships.»
As for the other issues, the summit will also see the swearing in of the new president of the ECOWAS Commission, the Gambian Omar Alieu Touray, from today at the head of the organization’s main executive body, and the start of work on the organization’s new headquarters, a project financed by China and which will cost at least 30 million euros, reports Radio France Internationale (RFI).
The works will be inaugurated by the Nigerian President, Muhamadu Buhari, accompanied by the incumbent ECOWAS President, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, for a building that will serve as the triple headquarters of the Commission, the Parliament and the Court of Justice.
