State House, Banjul, 30thJuly 2023
H.E President AdamaBarrow Sunday 30 July, joined fellow Heads of State at an Extra-Ordinary Session in Abuja, Nigeria, on the Situation inNiger, where the military recently overthrew a democratically elected President.
The Gambia President noted with concern the recent trend ofmilitary takeovers in the ECOWAS region, threatening nationaland regional peace, stability and development. He called on the regional organizations to work on their earlier recommendations for a Standby Force, and enhance dialogue through diplomacy and good neighborliness for the states and their peoples.
The ECOWAS block, until recently, stabilised on democraticgovernance and became a beacon of hope for the continent,experiencing countries transitioning from one democraticgovernment to another. The successful elections in the variouscountries have given hope to the citizens of ECOWAS that withstability, good governance, socio-economic development wouldbe fast-tracked.
The Abuja Summit was a renewal of hope for the citizens of theblock, commitment to the rule of law and upholding of goodgovernance through constitutionalism. The ECOWAS Protocolon Good Governance already set the pace for member states tofocus on democratic processes.
The Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, H.E Bola Ahmed Tinubu , in a frank remark at the opening of the Summit, said the presence is respect for democracy and must show a commitment that “without freedom and democracy there can’t be any development. There must be a strong act to protect the life ofH.E Bozzoum and make sure he is safe and democracy isrestored in the Republic of Niger. No more time to send a warning signal; it is time for Action”
The Final Communique affrims that H.E President Mohamed Bazoum remains the legitimate elected President of The Republic of Niger recognised by ECOWAS, AU and the International Community.
Details from the Abuja meeting are in a Communique releasedby the ECOWAS Commission.