51st ECOWAS SUMMIT: STABILITY AT THE HEART OF A WEST AFRICAN
West African leaders on Sunday welcomed peacekeeping in the region.
They warned of the multiple threats to their stability at a summit in Monrovia in the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr. Netanyahu, who had already launched a diplomatic offensive in East Africa in July 2016, ensured "a dream come true" by attending this Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS, 15 Members) in Liberia.
He reaffirmed his faith in the future of Africa, "an ascendant continent", and reiterated his wish to see Israel return to the African Union (AU) as an observer state.
In the margins of the summit, Mr Netanyahu and Senegalese President Macky Sall announced a normalization of their relations after a disagreement following a vote in the UN against the colonization of the occupied Palestinian territories.
Moroccan King Mohammed VI, whose ECOWAS was examining Sunday the request to join the organization, renounced to attend the summit because of tensions, according to Rabat, due to the invitation addressed to the Israeli Prime Minister.
The head of state of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, outgoing president of ECOWAS, handed over the reins to its Togolese counterpart Faure Gnassingbé, but the final declaration was delayed until late at night.
Ms Sirleaf praised the contribution of the ECOWAS forces, "many of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives" To the restoration of peace in his country, stained with a terrible civil war (1989-2003).
"Today, terrorist attacks endanger regional stability," she said.
"Our region continues to enjoy a strong credibility and a good image, thanks in particular to the diligent settlement of the Gambia crisis," said ECOWAS Commission President Marcel Alain de Souza, referring to The intervention that led the former Gambian president Yahya Jammeh to cede power in January.
"More vigilance"
"Nevertheless, the situation in Guinea-Bissau, Mali, northern Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso and the recent events in Côte d'Ivoire, ECOWAS has also begun Sunday to withdraw a first contingent of 65 men from its force deployed in Bissau since 2012 to secure the political transition in this country.
Mr. Netanyahu, who had already launched a diplomatic offensive in East Africa in July 2016, ensured "a dream come true" by attending this Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS, 15 Members) in Liberia.
He reaffirmed his faith in the future of Africa, "an ascendant continent", and reiterated his wish to see Israel return to the African Union (AU) as an observer state.
In the margins of the summit, Mr Netanyahu and Senegalese President Macky Sall announced a normalization of their relations after a disagreement following a vote in the UN against the colonization of the occupied Palestinian territories.
Moroccan King Mohammed VI, whose ECOWAS was examining Sunday the request to join the organization, renounced to attend the summit because of tensions, according to Rabat, due to the invitation addressed to the Israeli Prime Minister.
The head of state of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, outgoing president of ECOWAS, handed over the reins to its Togolese counterpart Faure Gnassingbé, but the final declaration was delayed until late at night.
Ms Sirleaf praised the contribution of the ECOWAS forces, "many of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives" To the restoration of peace in his country, stained with a terrible civil war (1989-2003).
"Today, terrorist attacks endanger regional stability," she said.
"Our region continues to enjoy a strong credibility and a good image, thanks in particular to the diligent settlement of the Gambia crisis," said ECOWAS Commission President Marcel Alain de Souza, referring to The intervention that led the former Gambian president Yahya Jammeh to cede power in January.
"More vigilance"
"Nevertheless, the situation in Guinea-Bissau, Mali, northern Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso and the recent events in Côte d'Ivoire, ECOWAS has also begun Sunday to withdraw a first contingent of 65 men from its force deployed in Bissau since 2012 to secure the political transition in this country.
The withdrawal of this force of about 500 men, which was to begin at the end of April, will be completed by the expected date on 30 June, according to a source close to the Ecomib command.
"In Guinea-Bissau the situation today is not at all encouraging," deplored the head of the diplomacy of the European Union, Federica Mogherini. She praised the outcome of the crisis in The Gambia, which "gives hope that democracy can win by peaceful means."
The situation in that country, Is not fully stabilized, as shown by the death of a demonstrator wounded by bullets on Friday during clashes with ECOWAS troops in the home village of former President Jammeh, whose protesters denounced the presence.
Gambian interior minister Mai Fatty, who has been rushed from Monrovia, has announced 22 arrests in the vicinity of Kanilai, about 100 km east of the capital Banjul and promised firmness against what he described Of "provocations".
Gambian interior minister Mai Fatty, who has been rushed from Monrovia, has announced 22 arrests in the vicinity of Kanilai, about 100 km east of the capital Banjul and promised firmness against what he described Of "provocations".
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