ECOWAS Newsletter Issue2-Eng

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

ECOWAS Newsletter Issue2-Eng ECOWAS PRESIDENT, CHAMBAS RECEIVES SPEAKER OF ISSUE 2, MARCH 2007 EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT COWAS is pre-occupied He identified the dearth of infra- EDITORIAL E with improving regional structure as a major constraint to infrastructure, expanding the development in the region as it The ECOWAS Commission has effectively taken off economies of Member States and distorts the implementation of the with the resumption of most of the Commissioners. We encouraging them to develop the regional Protocol relating to the have in our midst new high calibre staff who will inject capacity for exporting semi- free movement of persons, goods some dynamism and contribute to the rejuvenation of processed agricultural products to and services, a major instrument our Institution. The commissioners, some of the best improve their competitiveness in for boosting intra-regional trade CHAMBAS with MR. JOSEPH BORREL that the region has to offer, are bringing with them a the global economy, the Execu- and the economy of the region. FONTELSS variety of perspectives and experience in their diverse tive Secretary of ECOWAS, Dr In the wide-ranging discussions, areas of competence that would enrich the Commission Mohamed Ibn Chambas, said in Dr Chambas said ECOWAS was regional decision-making process in discharging its mandate of promoting the socio- Abuja. deploying its Lome-based as a mechanism for consultation economic integration of the over 230 million people of Exchanging views with Mr. Jo- ECOWAS Bank for Investment as part of the ongoing restructur- West Africa. seph Borrel Fontelles, the visiting and Development (EBID) as an ing of ECOWAS. President of the European Parlia- instrument for promoting the He said the introduction of the Of course, their arrival is coming with concomitant ment, Dr Chambas said that by physical integration of the region second currency in the region, expectations for an improved ECOWAS that is ex- improving the value added in through investments in the devel- scheduled for December 2009, is pected, not only to improve its performance, but also their agricultural exports, Mem- opment of regional infrastructure. being guided by “credible pa- fast track its programmes for the benefit of West Afri- ber States will create jobs, stimu- “Integration must be anchored on rameters” that would improve can citizens. Part of the justification for the transfor- late skills transfer and be insu- people”, he told the President fiscal and monetary management mation into a Commission, with enhanced powers, is lated from the instability in the who called on him at the of the economies of five countries that it would be more result-oriented and impact more global market for agricultural ECOWAS Commission he added that would operate the currency on the lives of our people by improving their standard exports, which impacts negatively that the ECOWAS Parliament and engender “prudent manage- of living. The challenges ahead promise to be daunting, on their economies. has been incorporated into the ment.” contd p3>> but with the wise guidance of our leaders and the determination of the commissioners, there is optimism that ECOWAS will deliver. Chambas Accredits Iranian Ambassador to ECOWAS In this Newsletter, we have highlighted not only the he Ambassador of the Islamic day, 20th March 2007, Dr. Cham- in achieving his mission to Nige- various developments since the last edition but have T Republic of Iran, Mr. Khos- bas said the gesture by the Gov- ria, Dr. Chambas expressed the also included other elements to improve staff apprecia- row Rezazadeh, has presented his ernment of Iran would not only hope that “your appointment will tion of the operations of the various departments. We credentials to the President of the reinforce the cooperation between encourage the development of have included the commissioner’s retreat in Ouagadou- ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Mo- Iran and ECOWAS but would initiatives and the realization of gou, echoes of the visit of the speaker of EU Parlia- hamed Ibn Chambas, as his coun- also further strengthen the close projects aimed at accelerating the ment to the President of the Commission, information try’s permanent representative to ties between their respective peo- pace of integration in the sub- on the new ambassadors accredited to ECOWAS as ECOWAS. ples. region, for the greater well-being well as the explanation of the new audit system. In a brief ceremony at the Com- While assuring the Ambassador of the West African people”. mission’s headquarters on Tues- of the cooperation of ECOWAS Developments in the areas of peace and security were captured in the report on the ACOTA exercise, which stimulated a regional response to a disaster. There is ECOSUITE: bringing information to your mouse by Amamata Sulaiman also an update on the activities of the ECOWAS COSUITE, a private version of Flexibility in information manage- and collaboration, breaks down Standby Force and an article that will improve staff E the Internet called intranet is ment is also gained, as information bureaucracy, improved quality of appreciation of the importance and definition of statis- confined for the use of the is just a click away. life at work and lastly improves tics as the region continues its relentless efforts to ECOWAS Commission. It was ECOSUITE lowers boundaries and productivity. improve data collection and harmonization to improve inspired by the credo that encourages information exchange, Some of the useful features that are planning. “Information is power” and de- which leads to more informed em- available in ECOSUITE are gen- ployed as a secure and effective On the life of our other Institutions, it is worth men- ployees with the ability to make eral, departmental and personal mechanism for internal information informed decisions and faster. This calendars and document folders, tioning that the Community Parliament and the Com- sharing among the staff of the Com- also contributes to increased pro- daily and monthly schedules, circu- munity Court of Justice have both elected new bureaus. mission. ductivity, leaving the staff with lars, Bulletins, general information, The take-off of the Commission has revived the spirit ECOSUITE will therefore assist the more time to spend on other impor- meetings notifications resource of staff and the expectation of donors and partners, staff to access the right information tant duties. request and allocation. ECOSUITE and we can keep this alive by working hard and re- thereby contributing to enhancing ECOSUITE has other inherent will be available for all by end of maining dedicated - always. productivity, reducing paperwork advantages including: - Improves April 2007. and saving time that would have decision-making, empower staff, Adrienne Yande Diop been spent in chasing information. encourages the culture of sharing In This Issue EDITORIAL ******************************************1 ECOWAS TO FIELD OBSERVERS FOR NIGERIA’S APRIL POLLS *** 4 PRESIDENT RECEIVE SPEAKER OF THE EU *********1 ACOTA COMMAND EXERCISE ***************************************5 ECOSUITE—NEW INTRANET FOR ECOWAS ********1 AMBASSADORS CALL FOR FAITHFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW MODEL FOR AUDIT **********************3 PROTOCOL ON FREE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS ******************* 6 QUOTE OF THE WEEK ******************************4 FORTHCOMING EVENTS **********************************************4 ECOWAS EMERGENCY RESPONSE MECHANISM **3 ECOWAS Newsletter, Issue 2, Page 2 o f STATISTICS Department improves capacity of data l generation in member states n ica by Christopher Ajaero i o ist ly: a t at e - i z St am ul EUROTRACE, a software for the compilation of uled where a detailed presentation of PRIMA would l n l B e be made to give the institutions’ an opportunity to n a S ca ad external trade statistics. i A ns sti Tr c- Sub-regional organizations that attended a three-day evaluate the software. “ F W tio ti A CO a Sta al al d workshop in Lome have agreed to adopt PRIMA as The workshop noted the number of countries that E lic S rn n n their common software for the calculation of Con- are currently using the PRIMA software: Ghana, ub A te tio n a a- P OW Ex Na tio dic sumers Price Index (CPI). Officials of the UEMOA Maldives, Dubai and Malawi and those countries EC , s, ica In Commission, WAMI, AFRISTAT and the where it is operational: Gambia, Sudan and Uganda. tin tic bl ic le tis Pu m ECOWAS Commission, who assessed the soft- It also noted the benefits offered by the application: ta ts no ware against some technical requirements, con- great flexibility, which enables it to adapt to many S un co co -E cluded that PRIMA should be deployed as the re- situations; its amenability to forecasting and its cio gional software for the compilation of CPI capacity to be linked with multiple CPI series from So r”. The workshop, which reviewed the options for a different base periods. It can also handle multiple to common tool for the Calculation of Consumers classifications, in-depth CPI and inflation analysis The Department of Research Prices Index (CPI) held from 12 to 14 February (including core inflation) while data entry through and Sta- tistics will carry out a number 2007 at the Community Computer Centre, Lome Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) while its data of activi- ties between January and February and enabled the participating institutions to review entry module is adaptable to personalized requests. 2007. Among them are: various proposals in this regard. In addition, the software is also compatible with the Finalization of ECOWAS Statistical Publications Officials from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), latest recommendations of the ILO on CPI issues namely: ECOWAS Statistical Bulletin, External Andel Consultants, Tilburg Netherlands and HM while no serious problem pertaining to the installa- Trade Statistics, National Accounts Publication and Consultant Karachi of Paskistan, the developers of tion and functioning of the application has been Socio-Economic Indicator. the PRIMA who demonstrated its capability at the reported by user countries in the last five years of its A publication on the ECOWAS Poverty Profile was workshop were also represented.
Recommended publications
  • TEMPERED LIKE STEEL the Economic Community of West African States Celebrated Its 30Th Anniversary in May, 2005
    ECOWAS 30th anniversary and roughly for the same reasons: economic cooperation among of the 15 members have met the economic convergence criteria. member states and collective bargaining strength on a global level. However, it is an instrument whose time has come and it seems cer- Ecowas was an acknowledgement that despite all their differ- tain that the Eco will make its appearance in the near future. ences, the member states were essentially the same in terms of needs, One of Ecowas’ successes has been in allowing relatively free resources and aspirations. It was also an acknowledgement that the movement of people across borders. Passports or national identity integration of their relative small markets into a large regional one documents are still required but not visas. Senegal and Benin issue was essential to accelerate economic activity and therefore growth. Ecowas passports to their citizens. The founders of the organisation were just as convinced that artifi- The Ecowas Secretariat in Abuja is working on modalities to allow cial national barriers, created on old colonial maps, were cutting across document-free movement of people and goods. This might take time, ancient trade routes and patterns and that these barriers had to go. as other regulations, such as residence and establishment rights have However, this came about at a time when sub-regional organisa- to be put in place first. tions were looked on with a degree of suspicion and African coun- One of the organisation's most vital arms is Ecomog, its peace- tries, encouraged by Cold War politics, had become inward-looking keeping force.
    [Show full text]
  • Africa Yearbook
    AFRICA YEARBOOK AFRICA YEARBOOK Volume 10 Politics, Economy and Society South of the Sahara in 2013 EDITED BY ANDREAS MEHLER HENNING MELBER KLAAS VAN WALRAVEN SUB-EDITOR ROLF HOFMEIER LEIDEN • BOSTON 2014 ISSN 1871-2525 ISBN 978-90-04-27477-8 (paperback) ISBN 978-90-04-28264-3 (e-book) Copyright 2014 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands. Koninklijke Brill NV incorporates the imprints Brill, Brill Nijhoff, Global Oriental and Hotei Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use is granted by Koninklijke Brill NV provided that the appropriate fees are paid directly to The Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Suite 910, Danvers, MA 01923, USA. Fees are subject to change. This book is printed on acid-free paper. Contents i. Preface ........................................................................................................... vii ii. List of Abbreviations ..................................................................................... ix iii. Factual Overview ........................................................................................... xiii iv. List of Authors ............................................................................................... xvii I. Sub-Saharan Africa (Andreas Mehler,
    [Show full text]
  • Allenson 1 Clare Allenson Global Political Economy Honors Capstone Word Count: 8,914 April 14, 2009 the Evolution of Economic I
    Allenson 1 Clare Allenson Global Political Economy Honors Capstone Word Count: 8,914 April 14, 2009 The Evolution of Economic Integration in ECOWAS I. Introduction Since gaining political independence in the 1960s, African leaders have consistently reaffirmed their desire to forge mutually beneficial economic and political linkages in order to enhance the social and economic development of Africa’s people. Their desire to achieve greater economic integration of the continent has led to the “‘creation of the most extensive network of regional organizations anywhere in the world 1.’” Regional networks in Africa are not a recent phenomenon, but have an historic roots as the historian Stanislas Adotevi states that “those who deny that Africans have much to trade among themselves ignore the history of precolonial trade, which was based on the exchange of good across different ecological zones, in a dynamic regional trading system centered on the entrepot markets that sprang up at the interstices of these zones 2.” He argues that colonialism disrupted these linkages that could have resulted in commercial centers of regional integration. These historical networks were rekindled in 1975, when fifteen nations, mostly former British and French colonies formed the regional organization, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) with the objective of increasing regional trade, improving free movement of labor, and developing policy harmonization 3. Throughout the 1980s the regional community struggled to create a coherent policy of integration until the early 1990s, when political cooperation increased as a result of a joint 1 Buthelezi, xiv 2 Lavergne, 72 3 Ibid, 133 Allenson 2 regional peacekeeping operation in Liberia and in 1993, member states signed a revised treaty with the goal of accelerating integration.
    [Show full text]
  • Economic Community of Communnaute Economique
    ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF COMMUNAUTE ECONOMIQUE WEST AFRICAN STATES DES ETATS DE L’AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Washington, D.C., October 19, 2007 Lecture On “The Role of the Economic Community of West African States in Achieving the Economic Integration of West Africa” By H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas President, ECOWAS Commission I. INTRODUCTION Director of the Wilson Center, Esteemed Scholars, Researchers, Fellows and Students of Woodrow Wilson Center, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, President Woodrow Wilson was a remarkable President of the United States whose internalisation was to set a high benchmark for multilateral diplomacy. As an accomplished scholar, Woodrow Wilson emphasized policy-oriented research and saw academia in a mutually reinforcing partnership with policy making in the common enterprise to forge a government that delivers “justice, liberty and peace”. As a President, he was a champion of national reconciliation whose anti-corruption and anti-trust crusade in favour of the poor made this country more just and caring. A thorough pacifist and renowned world statesman, his reluctant entry into World War I had one goal – to end the war and launch world peace based on collective security, a task he brilliantly accomplished. I therefore feel humbled, greatly honoured and privileged to be at this famous Center, a living reminder and symbol of the ideals that Woodrow Wilson stood for, to share my thoughts Lecture by H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas 1 President of the ECOWAS Commission At the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars with you on the role of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in achieving the economic integration of West Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • Security Council Provisional Seventy-Second Year
    United Nations S/ PV.8002 Security Council Provisional Seventy-second year 8002nd meeting Thursday, 13 July 2017, 11.05 a.m. New York President: Mr. Wu Haitao ................................. (China) Members: Bolivia (Plurinational State of) ..................... Mr. Llorentty Solíz Egypt ......................................... Mr. Moustafa Ethiopia ....................................... Mr. Alemu France ........................................ Mr. Michon Italy .......................................... Mr. Cardi Japan ......................................... Mr. Kawamura Kazakhstan .................................... Mr. Umarov Russian Federation ............................... Mr. Iliichev Senegal ....................................... Mr. Seck Sweden ....................................... Mr. Vaverka Ukraine ....................................... Mr. Yelchen ko United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland .. Mr. Hickey United States of America .......................... Ms. Sison Uruguay ....................................... Mr. Bermúdez Agenda Peace consolidation in West Africa Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (S/2017/563) This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the translation of speeches delivered in other languages. The final text will be printed in the Official Records of the Security Council. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record
    [Show full text]
  • Lessons from Multilateral Envoys GLOBAL PEACE OPERATIONS REVIEW
    Global Peace Operations Review Lessons from Multilateral Envoys GLOBAL PEACE OPERATIONS REVIEW The Global Peace Operations Review is an interactive web-portal presenting in-depth analysis and detailed data on military peacekeeping operations and civilian-led political missions by the United Nations, regional organizations, and ad-hoc coalitions. The web-portal is a product of the New York University Center on International Cooperation (CIC) and a continuation of its long- standing print publications the Annual Review of Global Peace Operations and the Review of Political Missions. Providing the most comprehensive overview of multilateral contributions to peacekeeping, conflict prevention, and post- conflict peacebuilding, the Review aims to initiate and inform discussions on the comparative advantages and appropriateness of different missions, and through constructive analysis to further strengthen existing partnerships necessary for them to succeed. Through the Country & Regional Profile pages, the Review provides background information and regularly updated key developments on peace operations and the contexts in which they operate. The analysis is further enhanced by the provision of detailed data on each of the UN’s peace operations, and headline data on missions fielded by regional organizations and ad hoc missions, which can be accessed in full through the Data & Trends section. Data on non-UN peace operations was compiled by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). For more details, please see our Data guide. The Strategic Summary provides an overview of main developments in mission settings over the past year and presents analysis on trends and the impact these may have on shaping peace operations of the future.
    [Show full text]
  • Country Profile 2005
    Country Profile 2005 Ghana This Country Profile is a reference work, analysing the country’s history, politics, infrastructure and economy. It is revised and updated annually. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Country Reports analyse current trends and provide a two-year forecast. The full publishing schedule for Country Profiles is now available on our website at http://www.eiu.com/schedule The Economist Intelligence Unit 15 Regent St, London SW1Y 4LR United Kingdom The Economist Intelligence Unit The Economist Intelligence Unit is a specialist publisher serving companies establishing and managing operations across national borders. For over 50 years it has been a source of information on business developments, economic and political trends, government regulations and corporate practice worldwide. The Economist Intelligence Unit delivers its information in four ways: through its digital portfolio, where its latest analysis is updated daily; through printed subscription products ranging from newsletters to annual reference works; through research reports; and by organising seminars and presentations. The firm is a member of The Economist Group. London New York Hong Kong The Economist Intelligence Unit The Economist Intelligence Unit The Economist Intelligence Unit 15 Regent St The Economist Building 60/F, Central Plaza London 111 West 57th Street 18 Harbour Road SW1Y 4LR New York Wanchai United Kingdom NY 10019, US Hong Kong Tel: (44.20) 7830 1007 Tel: (1.212) 554 0600 Tel: (852) 2585 3888 Fax: (44.20) 7830 1023 Fax: (1.212) 586 0248 Fax: (852) 2802 7638 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.eiu.com Electronic delivery This publication can be viewed by subscribing online at www.store.eiu.com Reports are also available in various other electronic formats, such as CD-ROM, Lotus Notes, on-line databases and as direct feeds to corporate intranets.
    [Show full text]
  • West Africa Brief
    WEST AFRICA BRIEF www.west-africa-brief.org No. 286, 16 December 2019 - 6 January 2020 ▷ Towards a single currency: from CFA franc to the Eco ▷ Guinea-Bissau: Embaló wins presidential election ▷ Burkina Faso: No peace in sight ▷ Niger: Running for peace in the Sahel ▷ Must read: Avoiding the resurgence of inter-communal violence in eastern Chad ▷ Must read: Mali: Fulani-Dogon, brothers who have become enemies ▷ Opinion: Regional organisations remain our first counterparts for conflict resolution ▷ Maps & Facts: UEMOA economies are projected to grow by 6.6% in 2020 ▷ Who’s who: Úmaro Sissoco Embaló, president of Guinea-Bissau TOWARDS A SINGLE CURRENCY: FROM CFA FRANC TO THE ECO between France and African countries. “By maintaining this guarantee, until the introduction of the Eco, we want to avoid speculation and capital flight,” explained Alassane Ouattara. Other critical voices say that the fixed exchange rate with the euro will make West African exports less competitive. At the regional level, the reform of the UEMOA monetary zone will facilitate its integration into the planned future ECOWAS monetary zone with a single currency, which was already mapped out in 2003. During the ECOWAS Authority’s 56th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and One important step forwards towards a single currency Government on 21 December 2019 in Abuja, West African was made on 21 December 2019 when Ivorian President leaders took measures to accelerate the establishment of Alassane Ouattara – who is also the current president of the ECOWAS Monetary Union in 2020. They adopted the the UEMOA – and French President Emmanuel Macron Eco symbol for the ECOWAS single currency, and the name announced plans to reform the CFA franc, the common of the ECOWAS Central Bank: Central Bank of West Africa currency of the eight UEMOA member countries.
    [Show full text]
  • S/PRST/2003/14 Security Council
    United Nations S/PRST/2003/14 Security Council Distr.: General 27 August 2003 Original: English Statement by the President of the Security Council At the 4815th meeting of the Security Council, held on 27 August 2003, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “The situation in Liberia”, the President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council: “The Security Council welcomes the briefing provided by representatives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), including Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana Nana Akufo Addo, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Côte d’Ivoire Mamadou Bamba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guinea François Fall, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria Oluyemi Adeniji, Permanent Representative of Senegal Ambassador Papa Louis Fall, and Executive Secretary of ECOWAS Ambassador Mohamed Ibn Chambas, on the Comprehensive Peace Agreement reached in Accra, Ghana on 18 August 2003. “The Security Council welcomes the Comprehensive Peace Agreement reached by Liberia’s Government, rebel groups, political parties, and civil society leaders in Accra, Ghana on 18 August 2003. “The Security Council appreciates the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), particularly organization Chairman and President of Ghana John Kufuor, Executive Secretary Mohammed Ibn Chambas, and mediator General Abdulsalami Abubakar in negotiating this agreement. “The Security Council remains concerned at the situation in Liberia, particularly the continuing dire humanitarian situation of much of the population. It calls on all parties to allow full, secure and unimpeded access for humanitarian agencies and personnel. “The Security Council again stresses the need to create a secure environment that enables respect for human rights, including the well-being and rehabilitation of children especially child combatants, protects the well- being of civilians, and supports the mission of humanitarian workers.
    [Show full text]
  • Regional Partnership Compact for the Implementation of ECOWAP/CAADP
    Regional Partnership Compact for the Implementation of ECOWAP/CAADP Adopted during the International Conference on Financing Regional Agricultural Policy in West Africa (ECOWAP/CAADP), Abuja (Nigeria), November 12, 2009 2 3 1 Context .. Major characteristics of the agricultural sector in West Africa e agricultural sector plays a determining role in the economic and social develop- ment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). As the founda- tion of the economy and of multiple societal challenges, agriculture is indispensable for national economies, contributing of the region’s GDP, up to employment, and income generation. Agricultural exports occupy a preeminent place in the West Africa’s external trade. Agricultural is one of the major vehicles for regional market integration. Agriculture plays a determining role in the fight against poverty and food insecuri- ty, through production for home consumption by agricultural households as well as through supplying food products to nearby and urban markets. Currently, regional production covers of the population’s food needs in ECOWAS. Women play important roles in production, processing and marketing of agricultural products. However, they are not always well taken into account in development poli- cies and strategies for modernizing agriculture. ey are weakly represented in vari- ous organizations and at consultations and negotiations. During the last years, West African agriculture has experienced profound changes. In the context of structural adjustment, producers have been stretched to adapt. Over- all output growth rates have been about the same as population growth. However, the growth of the sector is based on a model of extensification of production, with low productivity, high use of natural resources, and low labor remuneration.
    [Show full text]
  • 11Th ECOWAS-EU Ministerial Troika Meeting Luxembourg, 24 April 2007
    COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION EN Luxembourg, 24 April 2007 8825/07 (Presse 92) 11th ECOWAS-EU Ministerial Troika Meeting Luxembourg, 24 April 2007 FINAL COMMUNIQUE 1. The eleventh ministerial Troika meeting between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the European Union (EU) was held in Luxembourg on 24 th April 2007 under the Co–Chairs of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and African Integration of Niger, Her Excellency Mrs. Aïchatou Mindaoudou, standing for the current Chairperson of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers and His Excellency Mr. Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the CFSP and Secretary-General of the EU Council. 2. The ECOWAS Troika further included the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas. The EU Troika was further composed of Mr. Günter Gloser, Minister of State of Germany, representing the current Presidency of the EU, Mr. Joáo Gomes Cravinho, Portuguese Secretary of State, EU Commissioner for Development, Mr. Louis Michel and the Presidency Special Representative for the Mano River Union. His Excellency Mr. Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, Special Representative of the UNSG for West Africa, and Mr. Amadou Diop of the UEMOA Commission also attended the meeting as Observers. P R E S S Rue de la Loi 175 B – 1048 BRUSSELS Tel.: +32 (0) 2 281 6319 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 8026 [email protected] http://www.consilium.europa.eu/Newsroom 8825/07 (Presse 92) 1 EN A. PEACE AND SECURITY Côte d’Ivoire 3. ECOWAS and the EU welcomed the signing of the political agreement of 4 March 2007 in Ouagadougou between the President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire and the Secretary-General of the Forces Nouvelles.
    [Show full text]
  • West Africa: Governance and Security in a Changing Region
    West Africa: Governance and Security in a Changing Region Africa Program Working Paper Series Abdel-Fatau Musah FEBRUARY 2009 INTERNATIONAL PEACE INSTITUTE Cover Photo: Fishermen casting a ABOUT THE AUTHOR net near Okrika, an island village near the export oil refinery at Port Abdel-Fatau Musah, PhD, is Senior Adviser to the Danish Harcourt, on the Niger Delta, Agency for International Development (DANIDA) and Nigeria. © George Steinmetz/Corbis. Senior Conflict Prevention Adviser to the Economic The views expressed in this paper Community of West African States (ECOWAS). represent those of the author and not necessarily those of IPI. IPI Previously, Dr. Musah served as Senior Program Officer welcomes consideration of a wide at the Open Society Institute - West Africa (2002-2004); range of perspectives in the pursuit of a well-informed debate on critical consultant to the UN Regional Office for West Africa on policies and issues in international peacebuilding and conflict prevention (2004-2005); and affairs. Head of Research and Advocacy at the London-based Africa Program Staff Centre for Democracy and Development (1998-2001). John L. Hirsch, Senior Adviser Mashood Issaka, Senior Program Among other works, Dr. Musah is author of The ECOWAS Officer Moratorium on Light Weapons: Pitching Political Will IPI Publications Against Reality (Accra: FOSDA, 2004), and co-editor of Adam Lupel, Editor Mercenaries: An African Security Dilemma (London: Ellie B. Hearne, Publications Officer Pluto, 2000) and Over a Barrel: Light Weapons & Human © by International Peace Institute, Rights in the Commonwealth (New Delhi: CHRI, 2000). 2009 All Rights Reserved www.ipinst.org ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IPI owes a great debt of thanks to the generous contrib- utors to the Africa Program.
    [Show full text]