By Abdul Malik Bangura
Speaker of Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) Parliament, His Excellency Rt Honourable DrSidie Mohamed Tunis has affirmed that the regional parliament is condemning in its entirety the military takeover in the Republic of Mali.
The Speaker made this statement in his welcoming address on the opening ceremony of the ECOWAS Parliament 1st 2021 Ordinary Session ongoing in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Whilst delving on the efforts made so far by ECOWAS Parliament regarding the situation in Mali, the ECOWAS Speaker said “earlier this year, I led a Parliamentary Fact-Finding Mission to that Country and held discussions with all Stake Holders in the transition process. We were assured by all parties of their commitment towards a transition to democratic rule.” Unfortunately, the Speaker said “we have observed a few days ago, a dramatic shift in the political situation, which led to the arrest of the Transitional President, His Excellency Bah N’Daw and the Prime Minister, Mr. MoctarOuane.”
Speaker Tunis emphasized that “the ECOWAS Parliament condemns, in the strongest terms, the military takeover in Mali and all acts in the region that threatens or stalls the process of entrenching Democracy across our States.”
The Speaker said “we have made many efforts in securing a peaceful and stable ECOWAS and it is about time we take firm and decisive actions against forces that tend to reverse this trend,” adding that “the ECOWAS Parliament stands ready to support all efforts aimed at putting Mali on the right trajectory of peace and democracy.”
President of ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Jean-Claude KassiBrou whilst deliberating on the issue in the Republic of Mali said as a community, ECOWAS has engaged the current authorities in Mali for the immediate released of the former Interim President and former Interim Prime Minister. He assured that in the coming days, they will have to brief the various organs of ECOWAS and ensure that decision is taken.
On the same issue regarding the current situation in the Republic of Mali, President of the Republic of Ghana and Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Head of States and Governments, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during his opening address said he has authorized the ECOWAS mediation delegation to Mali which is headed by former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan do go to Mali and do an assessment on the entire situation. He said, after that, he will look at the report and then summon an emergency extraordinary session of heads of states and government of the ECOWAS region to review the relationship between ECOWAS and Mali.
Meanwhile, it should be noted that the Republic of Mali is one of the 15 member states of the ECOWAS, with 6 Members of Parliament representing it in the ECOWAS Parliament. In that country, the interim president and prime minister resigned on Wednesday, two days after they were arrested by the military.
President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane were said to have been taken to a military base outside the capital on Monday after a cabinet reshuffle in which two officers lost their posts.
The intervention led by Vice President Assimi Goita, according to international press, has jeopardised Mali’s transition back to democracy after a coup in August overthrew former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. It has provoked international condemnation and raised fears that a political crisis in Bamako could affect regional security.
