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Tag: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

  • ECOWAS Raises Concern Over Insecurity in West Africa Amidst Military Coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger

    ECOWAS Raises Concern Over Insecurity in West Africa Amidst Military Coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger

    By  Milcah   Tanimu

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has expressed deep concern over the escalating insecurity in the region, attributing it to recent military coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. During the 51st Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council, ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray highlighted the impact of these coups on the overall security environment.

    Coup attempts occurred in Burkina Faso on January 23, 2022, in Mali on May 24, 2021, and in Niger on July 26, 2023. According to Touray, the security situation in the region has become increasingly challenging, with transition processes facing disruptions due to political upheavals.

    Touray emphasized that these military coups, often fueled by false narratives, are significant drivers of insecurity. From January 1 to October 23, 2023, he presented alarming statistics, revealing that 4.8 million people in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are grappling with food insecurity. Additionally, 2.4 million people are internally displaced, and nearly 9,000 schools remain closed.

    Burkina Faso bears the highest burden, with close to 2.2 million people facing food insecurity and 2 million internally displaced. Mali and Niger also face substantial challenges. The humanitarian crisis includes complex issues such as forced migration, poor nutrition, and educational disruptions.

    Touray acknowledged the urgency of the situation and pledged ECOWAS’s commitment to facilitating a swift return to constitutional order in the affected member states. As part of the humanitarian response, the ECOWAS Commission plans to deploy funds from the Counterterrorism Fund to address immediate needs, including basic education for conflict-affected children, livelihood support, and resilience building.

  • Liberia’s Presidential Run-Off: Neck and Neck Race

    Liberia’s Presidential Run-Off: Neck and Neck Race

    By  Milcah   Tanimu

    Liberia is on the verge of a presidential run-off election as official provisional results show that the two leading candidates, incumbent President George Weah and opposition candidate Joseph Boakai, are in a neck-and-neck race. With over 94 percent of the ballots counted, Boakai, 78, secured 43.70 percent of the vote, while Weah, 57, a former international football star running for a second term, garnered 43.65 percent.

    In the first round of voting on October 10, both candidates outperformed the other 18 presidential contenders. However, it appears that neither Weah nor Boakai will secure an absolute majority, necessitating a run-off election.

    While nearly 93 percent of polling stations have completed ballot counting, the official results announcement will trigger the scheduling of a run-off, expected to take place two weeks later. The timing may be subject to potential appeals.

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union have commended the Liberian government and the election commission for conducting a peaceful and well-participated vote. This election marks the first to be held since the United Nations concluded its peacekeeping mission in Liberia in 2018, a mission established after two civil wars claimed over 250,000 lives between 1989 and 2003.