BRIEF www.west-africa-brief.org

No. 252, 5-18 September 2017

▶ Showdown in ▶ 32nd CILSS Day ▶ ECOWAS-UEMOA statutory meeting ▶ Forum on the Green Revolution in Africa ▶ Enable: the Belgian’s development agency is changing ▶ Publication: Journey to extremism in Africa ▶ Opinion: Cross-border co-operation must become a driver of integration ▶ Maps & Facts: Substantial food price gaps across West Africa ▶ Who’s who: Tikpi Atchadam, politician, Togo shoWdoWn in TOGO representative Jean-Pierre Fabre, is part of an eff ort to continue to put pressure on the government following the Council of Ministers’ adoption of a “constitutional amendment” draft bill that would pave the way for parliamentary scrutiny. Far from calming down the political situation, the week of September 11 was marked by an intensification of opposition activity. Aft er the extraordinary session devoted to examining the parliamentary budget was suspended the day before it was supposed to take place -- a budget that was rejected by the opposition in the name of constitutional reform -- the sessions on 13 and 14 September, did not resolve the crisis. The opposition denounced the lack of debate about constitutional reform and called for another extraordinary session to discuss the issue. ECOWAS Commission President Marcel Alain de © Tinganews Souza traveled to Lomé to try to resolve the crisis by calling on the opposition and the government “to continue the On 6 September, three weeks aft er the demonstrations in dialogue and carry out these reforms.” The opposition, for Lomé and Sokodé that killed at least two people, tens of its part, intends to continue to fight the current battle with thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets the sitting government, both in the streets and in the halls of of ten cities in Togo at the opposition’s request. Their Parliament. As for the consequences of this movement, as demands: political change and the implementation of the summarised on France 24 by Gilles Yabi from the think tank constitutional reforms promised by the regime that would Wathi, “There is something moving in Togo, but it is still too limit the number of terms the president can serve and early to know whether it is a historic turning point “... both in introduce a two-round voting system. This demonstration of the capacity of the government to continue to resist and in strength, described as “never-seen” by the longtime leader the emergence of new opposition leaders. of the opposition and National Alliance for Change (ANC)

The West Africa Brief is published by the Sahel and West Africa Club Secretariat (SWAC/OECD). It presents political, economic and social developments in the region. Special focus is given to news regarding regional organisations (ECOWAS, UEMOA, CILSS) as well other SWAC Members’ activities. The articles should not be reported as representing the off i cial views of the OECD or of its member countries. Contact: [email protected]

SAHEL AND WEST AFRICA Club www.west-africa-brief.org Secretariat 32nd CILSS Day

create 10 million jobs for young people and women. On the occasion of this CILSS day, President Keïta presented a new atlas published by CILSS, entitled “Landscapes of West Africa: A window on a changing world.” This book, the result of extensive research, shows the degradation of natural habitats and biodiversity as well as soil erosion, all results of population growth and the twofold increase from 1975 © CILSS to 2013 in land being used for agriculture. The atlas also highlights positive experiences with “increased biodiversity The 32nd CILSS Day was celebrated by the Permanent on agricultural land, regeneration of tree cover, and soil and Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) water conservation techniques used to improve land,” noted on 12 September and focused on the theme, “Land use and President Keïta. The atlas was designed to be both a tool to occupation: Atlas of Sahelian and West African landscapes, a raise awareness among the people of the region and a tool for planning and decision-making tool.” In his speech, President decision-making and planning for West African officials. This Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta of , who is also current chairman book is “a reference, capitalisation and advocacy document of CILSS, stressed the importance of this theme, because of its that can raise awareness among decision-makers and citizens impact on agro-sylvo-pastoral productivity, desertification and about the worrying changes underway and inform them biodiversity and on local and interstate conflicts due to cross- about the behaviors to adopt.” […]“We want this document border economic migration and transhumance. He recalled to be a tool for policy-making in order to improve agricultural the appeal launched by African officials to the international productivity, hence this outreach,” said Ibrahim Boubacar community on 15 June calling for the creation of partnerships Keïta, inviting African countries to appropriate the document to rehabilitate 10 million hectares of degraded lands and and use it to take action to preserve the environment.

ECOWAS-UEMOA statutory meeting

meeting was co-chaired by ECOWAS Commission President Marcel Alain de Souza and UEMOA Commission President Abdallah Boureima. Members discussed several issues including: trade and fair competition, land, animal health, air transport, the Abidjan-Lagos corridor project, and the implementation of the Common External Tariff (CET) and the Community Code on Customs. They also discussed the latest conclusions of the ECOWAS Summit on Morocco’s accession to © UEMOA ECOWAS and the association agreement with Mauritania. The commissions have signed several co-operation agreements, in Members of the commissions of the Economic Community of particular with CILSS, and have thanked the member countries West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic for their efforts in building the common market. They also and Monetary Union (UEMOA) met at the 16th Meeting of the reaffirmed their solidarity with and their joint fight Joint Technical Secretariat, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to against terrorism. take stock of their partnerships and discuss future policies. The

Enable: the Belgian’s development agency is changing

As of 1 January 2018, the Belgian Technical Cooperation the co-operation policy and the agency that implements it. The (CBT) will change its name to become ENABLE, a nod to the structure of the agency will thus be profoundly modified and English expression “enable” -- which means to allow or to its mandate broadened. The agency will become an integrated make possible. In 2016, CBT was involved in 170 projects service in embassies and diplomatic offices in partner countries in 21 countries, and through its activities distributed EUR in order to integrate co-operation into Belgium’s foreign 217 million -- two-thirds in North Africa and West Africa and policy. It will henceforth be responsible for all sustainable one-third in Central Africa. Following the endorsement by development objectives, including the search for funding the UN General Assembly in September 2015 of Agenda 2030 from other partners, whether public or private. Its resources for Sustainable Development, international institutions have will remain the same, 0.47% of the gross domestic product, recommended that Belgium adapt its model of co-operation below the 0.7% recommended by countries of the OECD to allow better links between the administration that conducts Development Assistance Committee (DAC). Forum on the GREEn REVOLUTIOn In aFRICa

the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the AGRF Partners Group. It brought together some 1 300 government representatives and over 300 stakeholders. Discussions were based on AGRA’s 2017 African agriculture status report entitled, “The business of smallholder agriculture,” which emphasised the importance of market liberalisation and the need to replace imports with value-added food commodities produced in Africa for a market that is expected to reach USD 1 trillion by 2030. The 7th African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) was held The forum assessed the use of the USD 30 billion pledged from 4 to 8 September in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Established during AGRF 2016 and the progress that has been made. in 2010, the forum brings together international and African Participants were able to join six thematic groups related to experts on African agricultural issues to exchange ideas and youth, women, inputs, markets, mechanisation and finance. designJOURNEY new action TO EXTREMISM plans for the IN GreenAFRICA Revolution in Africa. Many partnership agreements were signed with the private This year’s theme was: Accelerating the path to prosperity: sector, notably between Côte d’Ivoire and AGRA concerning Growing inclusive economies and jobs through agriculture. the establishment of an AGRA headquarters in that country The forum was chaired by the President of Côte d’Ivoire, to assist Francophone countries in West Africa achieving their , and was organised in co-operation with agricultural transformation goals. puBlication: JOURnEy TO EXTREMISM In aFRICa

According to this study, a recruit’s typical profile is someone who has been marginalised and neglected since infancy, who comes from a border area or peripheral region that has been marginalised for generations, and who is economically frustrated and in urgent need of employment. Resentment towards government and the state is also a major factor; for 71% of respondents, government action was the trigger that made them join © UNDP an extremist group. The study also notes that the religious driver is not a main factor and that on the contrary, a high For two years, the UNDP Regional Off ice for Africa level of religious studies reduces the probability of an conducted a study to understand why some individuals individual enrolling in an extremist group. According to rally behind major extremist groups in Africa. Based UNDP estimates, some 33 300 people in Africa lost their on hundreds of interviews with activists from these lives because of acts of extremist violence between 2011 movements, the results of this study have been published and early 2016. A book and a photographic exhibition were in a report entitled, “Journey to extremism in Africa: produced to accompany the study. Drivers, incentives and the tipping point for recruitment.”

OPInIOn: cross-Border co-operation must Become a driver oF integration

states, local cross-border co-operation regarding services AFRICA and infrastructure must be facilitated. “Cross-border JUIN 2017 BRIEF DIVISION AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST co-operation must become a driver of integration.” According to Bossard, anything that can promote flows In an interview given to the Swiss Co-operation and in the South is an asset for development and will help publishedLA COOPÉRATION in the June TRANSFRONTALIÈRE 2017 edition of EN Africa AFRIQUE Brief, DE LaurentL’OUEST alleviate the pressure on people to migrate to the North. Bossard, director of the Sahel and West Africa Club The challenge is to reconcile local co-operation procedures SecretariatEDITORIAL (SWAC/OECD), highlighted some key challenges with national and regional public policies. Added to La DDC s’engage de manière croissante au ofniveau cross-border régional en Afrique de l’Ouest, co-operation. tant He pointed out that half the challenges of co-operation and development are au travers d’appui à des organisations ré- thegionales population pour la définition d’un cadre of légal West Africa lives within 100-km of a challenges related to security,” which also rely, to a very favorable à l’intégration, qu’au niveau ter- ritorial pour rendre ces cadres légaux et les border,politiques régionales where concrètes. nothingUne plus stops “except the policies.” Even if large extent, on transnational and cross-border dynamics.” grande fluidité dans la région, soit une cir- cross-borderculation des biens et des personnes regional accrue, co-operation is regulated between ouvre des perspectives aux populations, tant économiques que sociales. Renforcer la collaboration entre les régions frontalières, dans le cadre des politiques régionales exis- tantes, permet de créer des dynamiques de développement. La coopération transfron- talière est essentielle dans cette région étant donné que 46% de la population ouest-afri- caine vit dans une zone frontalière. Marché au bétail transfrontalier de Fada N’Gourma au Burkina Faso, situé à la frontière avec le et le Bénin. Un lieu où la transhumance et les échanges sont importants. Photo: J. Demenge La Division Afrique de l’Ouest s’engage de- puis plus de 10 ans au niveau régional et souhaite encore renforcer ce niveau d’inter- vention, afin de donner aux populations, et COOPÉRER PAR DELÀ LES FRONTIÈRES LIBRE CIRCULATION aux jeunes en particulier, d’autres opportu- nités de développement personnel que la C’est une piste en latérite de 42 kilomètres, L’Afrique de l’Ouest se prête particulière- migration vers les pays du Nord ou l’extré- qui relie la bourgade de Ouéléni au Burkina ment bien à une intégration régionale. Les misme violent. Faso, à celle de Loulouni au Mali. Rien de populations sont historiquement issues spectaculaire mais depuis qu’elle a été ré- des mêmes lignages, elles partagent lan- Ce numéro de l’Africa Brief entend présenter habilitée, en 2016, les échanges commer- gues et cultures, commercent entre elles la pertinence de la coopération transfronta- ciaux régionaux ont connu une expansion depuis toujours. Elles font aussi face à des lière en Afrique de l’Ouest appuyée par des notable. La piste irrigue le commerce local défis communs en matière de sécurité ou programmes régionaux de la DDC. des produits agricoles, qui jusqu’ici avaient de migration. Des accords négociés au de la peine à trouver des débouchés. Le sein d’organisations comme la Commu- Chantal Nicod, marché de Loulouni, lui, a été rénové et nauté Economique des Etats de l’Afrique Cheffe de division agrandi pour répondre à ces besoins. Les de l’Ouest (CEDEAO) ou l’Union Econo- deux projets, complémentaires, ont été mique et Monétaire Ouest-Africaine (UE- financés par la Suisse mais initiés par les MOA) ont consacré la libre circulation des autorités concernées. C’est tout le sens du biens et des personnes, particulièrement soutien à la coopération transfrontalière bienvenue à l’heure où les échanges s’in- locale: donner les moyens de mettre en tensifient avec l’augmentation des popu- place des infrastructures partagées, facili- lations frontalières. ter la mobilité entre pays et contribuer à de meilleures perspectives de vie pour les Problème: ces accords entre Etats sont populations. souvent mal appliqués. La «coopération

AFRICA BRIEF Juin 2017 La coopération transfrontalière en Afrique de l’Ouest 1 MaPS & FaCTS: SUBSTANTIAL FOOD PRICE GAPS ACROSS WEST AFRICA

Mauritania

Mali Niger Chad Gambia

Burkina Faso -Bissau Guinea Côte Cabo Verde d’Ivoire Togo

Food price levels [relative to the regional average] Source: ICP 2011/World Bank (2015) and SWAC/OECD (2017) Low (< - 8%) Medium (-8 - +8%) High (> +8%) Food price border differentials, land borders [relative to the regional average] Low (< 6%) Medium (6 - 17%) High (17 - 23%) Very high (> 23%)

Prices are a key determinant of access to food in West Africa Senegal, Liberia-Sierra Leone), border price diff erentials exceed as households rely on markets for two-thirds of their food 17%, highlighting the high transaction costs. Since the launch of supply. Food prices in sub-Saharan Africa are 30 to 40% more the Trade Liberalisation Scheme of the Economic Community expensive than in the rest of the world at comparable levels of of West African States (ETLS/ECOWAS) in the early 90s, ECOWAS GDP per capita. They vary greatly across countries – from -28% aims to promote a free trade area. Customs duties levied on in Mauritania to +14% in Ghana compared to the West African imports and exports, and non-tariff barriers are formally abolished average, reflecting also the relative ineff iciency of the regional within the ECOWAS area. Yet, in practice, its implementation food market. Price diff erentials are at their lowest between the remains haphazard with many remaining barriers. Removing eight countries of the West African Economic and Monetary these obstacles and facilitating regional trade would contribute to Union (UEMOA). In other areas (Côte’divoire-Ghana, Mauritania- reducing food prices.

WHO’S WHO: TIKPI ATCHADAM, POLITICIAN, TOGO The demonstrations in Togo he joined the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights where he would on 19 August calling for a limit be employed until 2006. Between 2000 and 2002, he was a member to the number of presidential of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), where he terms were repressed. That was secretary of the age division and rapporteur of the commission demonstration and the in charge of communication as a civil society representative. Close to one on 6 September, which the Pan-African Socialist Party in his youth, he subsequently took his brought together more than voter card to the Democratic Party for Renewal (PDR). When this party 100 000 people in Lomé, revealed joined the presidential majority in 2005, Tchikpi Atchadam distanced a new person at the head of the himself from the Togolese political scene. He returned in November Togolese opposition, Tikpi Salifou Atchadam, and introduced him 2014 and created the PNP, which was a non-event in a country that to an international audience. He is the leader of the Pan-African has nearly 120 political parties. The PNP did not participate in the 2015 National Party (PNP) and has succeeded in unifying the opposition elections, but joined s the “Front Tchoboué” that gathered several against the Gnassingbé dynasty by allying himself with longtime parties together who wanted to reform the current regime. Aft er that, opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre to overcome the communal Tchikpi Atchadam worked more on the ground and built up both divides. Mr. Atchadam had never participated in a presidential his popular base in his city, Sokodé and his financial and diplomatic poll until now and his party, PNP, created in 2014, has no base within the Togolese diaspora, which is particularly numerous in representation in Parliament. He is not, however, new to Togolese Germany. Although Tikpi Atchadam initially based his support on his political life. Tikpi Atchadam was born in 1967 in Kparatao, near native region and his native the Tem population, he is now positioning Sokodé, in the Tchaoudjo region of northern Togo. He is a lawyer himself as a national opponent, having allied himself with Jean-Pierre by training and holds a DEA in private law as well as a master’s Fabre who represents the country’s southern regions. With a party degree in anthropology and African studies, with a focus on legal that has a large local presence and this massive popular mobilisation, anthropology, from the University of Lomé. In 1995, he joined the Tchikpi Atchadam is now getting ready for the 2018 parliamentary and general secretariat of the prefecture of Tchaoudjo and, a year later, local elections.