The next ordinary summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will take place on December 10 in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, according to a press release issued by the presidency following a meeting in Abidjan on Wednesday between Ivorian head of state Alassane Ouattara and the president of the regional organisation’s commission, Omar Alieu Touray.
There are predictions that Niger Republic is likely to feature prominently in their agenda. Already, there is a strong lobby to soften sanctions on the military junta, by ending the sanctions regime and reopening borders, especially with Nigeria.
There are also ongoing efforts to convince the leaders of the regional body to tread softly on sanctions against the other states under military rule, Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso, so as not to create further cracks in the region’s advanced achievements in the integrative process.
Regarding the sanctions imposed on the four countries, observers say it would be possible to negotiate with ECOWAS for a way out of the crisis by proposing a very reasonable and well-argued timetable to return to democratic governance.
This timeline could be the basis of a negotiation with the sub-regional organisation to end the sanctions.
The last summit took place at the beginning of August, and was entirely devoted to the situation in Niger, following the military coup of July 26 that overthrew the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, who has since been in detention in his residence in Niamey.
The Heads of State had threatened military intervention to restore President Bazoum to office, and imposed heavy economic and financial sanctions on Niger, under the military regime led by General Abdourahamane Tiani.
“I wouldn’t say we’ve given up the military option. We have suspended it, while waiting for the sanctions to produce results”, said Abdel-Fatau Musah, Ecowas Commissioner for Political Affairs, in an interview published Thursday by Jeune Afrique.
General Tiani had put forward a three-year transitional period before a return to constitutional order, which was rejected by the regional body. Responding to this proposal, Musah said “many things are negotiable, but under no circumstances will we accept a three-year transition”.
The four member-States under military rule have since been suspended from the organisation, and will therefore not be represented at the Abuja summit.
Three of these countries, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, have formed a new alliance, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which many fear may eventually lead them to exit ECOWAS permanently, a reality many say would be detrimental to the goals of ECOWAS.
