The Chairman of ECOWAS, President Akufo-Addo, opened the meeting of west African Leaders in Accra, at the Kempinski hotel Gold coast city on Thursday, describing the quick response as a positive signal of high interest to further discuss developments in those Guinea and Mali. He said, ” the positive response is a clear manifestation of the ECOWAS community’s solidarity and commitment to the region’s democracy, peace, prosperity, and togetherness.”
He reminds them of the coup of 5th September 2021 in Guinea which saw a section of the military take over the government of President Alpha Conde. He also mentioned the measures taken so far in the interim, including the condemnation of the coup, the suspension of Guinea from the regional forum, and demand for the release of the detained Conde, as well as the establishment of a high-level ECOWAS mission to Guinea to assess the situation and report back to the regional authorities.
President Akufo Addo went further to share the agender for the emergency summit. “The high-level ECOWAS mission went to Guinea on the 10th of September, met the military leaders. They also saw President Alpha Conde at his place of detention. They have made a report to us, which will be the basis of our deliberations at this emergency summit on Guinea. We will also receive a report from the mediator of the Malian crisis on developments in Mali from the Mediator, His Excellency Goodluck Jonathan, the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The chairman of ECOWAS persuaded the leaders to participate and suggest pragmatic solutions to the situations in the two republics. He said “We are required to take informed decisions on these matters. I count on you, Excellencies, to help proffer durable solutions to the crisis and I’m confident that as in the past, we will rise to the occasion.”
From the interim reports so far, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, leader of the military cited undemocratic practices, hopelessness, non-accountability, and mounting unemployment as justification for the coup. Similarly, soldiers in Mali led by Colonel Assimi Goïta and Colonel-Major Ismaël Wagué capitalised on political unrests following disputed parliamentary elections results in March and April to oust President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, and Prime Minister Boubou Cissé.
ECOWAS used this summit to condemn such military take over and demanded the reinstallation of the presidents.
